Seasonal rawhide traders fearing loss as the wholesalers are not reportedly willing to pay more than Tk 700 a piece.
Babul Mollah, a seasonal trader told Bangla Tribune that he bought about 1500 pieces of rawhide from Mirpur, before going to the wholesalers of Lalbagh’s Posto area.
“But the wholesalers are not going over Tk 700,” he said adding that they bought some rawhide for prices between Tk 800 to 1000.
If the wholesalers don’t raise their price, he will incur about Tk. 300,000 in losses, Mollah said.
Another trader Ibrahim khan said hundreds of seasonal traders like him are facing loss given the drop in rawhide price.
When asked about the seasonal traders’ concern Bangladesh Tanners Association’s General Secretary Sakhawat Ullah told Bangla Tribune, “The rawhide market is not doing so well causing the price drop.”
“The price hit a three decade low,” he added.
Rawhide trading took place at the temporary haats in the capital’s Dhanmondi, Science Lab and Azimpur area. On the other hand, the wholesalers were seen less eager to buy from seasonal traders in Lalbagh.
Usually, wholesalers get busy collecting rawhide in the afternoon of Eid day. They used to purchase rawhides from different areas of the city. But the sight was different this time around. The seasonal traders were seen anxiously waiting for the wholesalers who showed little interest.
The wholesalers are saying that tanner owners have told them to source rawhides for less that Tk 1000 a piece.
Mokbul Hossain, a wholesaler in Posto area told Bangla Tribune. “The best of cowhides are being traded for prices between Tk 800 to Tk 1000 this year.”
“Seasonal traders, who bought hides at Tk 400-500, made good profit,” he added.
Many seasonal traders were able to buy rawhides for Tk 500 on average while in places outside the capital average rawhide trading price was reported to be Tk 450.