Eid shoppers are forced to fork out extra bucks on clothes this year as yarn price shoots up on the international market that pushes up the fabric production cost at home significantly.

Shopkeepers in city markets are now charging higher price on garments made of cotton yarn, prices of which have increased by 50 percent in the last two months.

At the city's busiest Gausia market, shopkeepers are charging Tk 50 to Tk 80 in excess for Tangail saree. Punjabi, pajama, three-piece, baby wears, shirt, lungi and other products of locally knitted cotton fabrics became costlier than last year.

"Prices of garment products swing upward before every Eid but this year we aren't increasing prices for extra profit. We had to pay high price on the wholesale market to procure cotton fabrics this year," said Mozammel Hossain, a shopkeeper at Gausia yesterday.

He however said the price hike did not dampen the spirit of Eid shoppers. "Our last week's sale experience tells that the higher price hardly had a negative impact on shopping this year. The sale of Tangail sarees is so far so good," he said.

The excesses and export rejects from export-oriented garment factories that occupy a major portion of Eid market also become dearer this year because of the yarn price hike.

Mohammad Jamil, a shop owner at the Eastern Plaza, admitted of the rise but said they have little control over the price hike.

"Usually prices of garment products come down after Eid but this year it would not happen. Unless the prices drop at the international market the garment price will not come down," he said.

President of the Bangladesh Yarn Merchants Association Mohammad Jahangir Alam also blamed the government's decision last year to ban import of yarn through land ports.

Local fabric manufacturers, who were mostly dependant on Indian yarns, are charging exorbitant prices that are not proportionate to international price, he said.

Though cotton price has increased by only 20 per cent in the international market, yarn producers are asking for 50 per cent in excess.

"Textile mills are stockpiling yarn, which is pushing up the price hampering the business of rural weavers and knitwear manufacturers," he said. "Weavers in villages are the most-affected as they do not have the financial ability to stock yarns."

President of the Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association Monjurul Hoq said the rise in yarn price is striking the knitwear and garment industry beyond imagination.

"We are being forced to cancel orders due to high yarn price. We cannot meet the buyers' target price with such prices of yarns," he said.

Only two months back local cotton was available at $2.2/kg and Indian cotton at $1.9. But the prices of local yarn are $3.3/kg and Indian imports $2.75/kg, he said.

"Due to high price of local yarn we are being forced to import heavily to stay competitive," said Monjurul.

He urged the government to withdraw ban on import through land ports immediately before the knit industry falls flat on its face.

An official of the Bangladesh Textile Mills Association meanwhile said they are not hoarding yarn. "Rise in cotton price in the international market forces us to increase yarn price," he said.