Retailers said that the price hike brought an adverse effect on their business. Some retailers of New Market mentioned that they bought aluminum goods for Tk 145.00 per Kg from wholesalers last year. The price turned to Tk 175.00 a kilogram this year.

"We are making very little profit because of the high price," said Mamtazur Rahman, sales person of Barisal Crockery in Mohammedpur Krishi Market. "Now we sell aluminum goods for Tk 190.00 per kg making a profit of only Tk 15 on a kg," he said.

Sources in the industry said cost of raw material rose by Tk 40,000 a tonne. Last year the price of raw material in the industry was Tk 1,00,000, which went up to Tk. 1,05,000. Within a few months the increased to Tk 1,15,000. At present, the price is stationed at Tk 1,42,000 a tonne.

Factory owners commented that the production cost of aluminum items is around Tk 1,75,000 a tonne as the purchase price of the raw material is very high. They said they are left with no options but to raise the price of their commodities.

Some traders also said aluminum goods are gradually losing its attraction as melamine, steel and stainless steel items flooded the market in the past few years. "There was a time when people used buckets made of aluminum," said Aminul Hauque, an aluminum trader. "Nowadays they use only a few kitchen items like karai and patil or just a kalshi," he added.

Sources said there is an increase in the demand of raw material in aluminum sector in the international market, especially in Europe and China. There is a demand for eight to 10 tonnes of aluminum products in the country annually. But the local aluminum industry owners are hesitating to import raw materials and continue production. They think customers may opt for products other than theirs because of high prices, as production costs cannot be reduced.

Obaidur Rahman, President of Bangladesh Aluminum Manufacturers Association said raw materials are being imported from India, Pakistan, Singapore and Australia. The importers have to pay at least 30 to 32 per cent tax including VAT (value added tax), customs duty and others. "It would be a difficult task to save this sector if we are not exempted from such taxes," he said.