Hyderabad, Oct. 26: Diwali sweet prices in Hyderabad have increased by 20 to 25 percent ahead of the festival, putting additional pressure on household budgets. Higher sugar, dry fruit and production costs have pushed up prices of traditional sweets and festive gift boxes.
A kilogram of popular sweets such as gulab jamun and kalakand now costs between Rs. 900 and Rs. 1,200. Other varieties, including rasgulla, soan papdi, rasmalai, balushahi and motichoor laddu, are priced between Rs. 800 and Rs. 1,100 per kg.
Rising Sugar and Dry Fruit Costs Push Up Diwali Sweet Prices
Sugar prices have increased by 17 to 20 percent over the past couple of months. A kilogram now costs between Rs. 60 and Rs. 70, compared with around Rs. 45 in July and August.
“Ingredient prices and the cost of production have gone up considerably over the past couple of months. We have no option but to pass on the increased costs to customers,” said a manager at a sweets outlet in Himayatnagar.
Dry fruit-based sweets have become even more expensive. Kaju barfi, kaju katli, anjeer dry fruit laddu, dry fruit halwa and anjeer kaju barfi cost between Rs. 1,800 and Rs. 2,900 per kg, depending on the variety.
Cashews are priced between Rs. 960 and Rs. 1,300 per kg, while almonds cost between Rs. 1,080 and Rs. 4,000 per kg. Pistachio prices have risen to around Rs. 3,000 per kg, with premium varieties reaching Rs. 3,500.
Dry fruit sellers attributed the increase to import disruptions linked to the US-Iran conflict, affecting supplies from Middle Eastern countries and Afghanistan. Reduced imports have pushed prices higher despite the Central government’s recent decision to cut the Goods and Services Tax on nuts from 12 percent to 5 percent.
Rajesh, a dry fruit retailer in the Old City, said prices could rise further in the coming months due to the ongoing conflict, higher Brent crude oil prices and increased freight charges.
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