AZE.US
Cucumber and tomato prices in Azerbaijan have risen sharply this spring, with increases in some cases reaching up to 80% compared to the same period last year.
Tomatoes that sold for 2 to 3 manats per kilogram last year are now priced at 4 to 5 manats in bazaars and 6 to 7 manats in supermarkets. Cucumbers, which cost around 1.20 manats per kilogram a year ago, are now selling for about 2 manats in markets and 3 to 5 manats in stores.
Vendors in Baku say they are already buying produce from the regions at elevated prices, leaving little room to keep retail prices low. Tomatoes are being supplied from areas including Khachmaz, Salyan and villages around Baku, while cucumbers are arriving from Shamkir and other districts. Sellers say transport costs are also adding pressure.
But logistics are only part of the story. Farmers say production itself has become much more expensive this year. Greenhouse operators point to a steep rise in fertilizer and chemical costs, along with higher gas and electricity bills, labor shortages and unfavorable weather. One producer said the price of ammonium nitrate alone has jumped from 22 manats to 50 manats.
Supply is also still limited. Farmers and traders say not enough produce has reached the market yet, which is keeping prices high. In Barda, growers say their overall costs this year are up by 30% to 40%, mainly because of more expensive farm chemicals and energy inputs.
Economist Rashad Hasanov said the current price spike is also linked to the seasonal transition period. Right now, greenhouse vegetables dominate the market, while large volumes of open-field produce have not yet arrived. As that supply increases, prices are expected to ease gradually.
Even so, market participants say prices are unlikely to return to last year’s levels. Analysts say agricultural products in general have been showing a broader price increase of around 8% to 10%.
In other words, this is not a random jump. It reflects a mix of seasonal shortage, rising greenhouse production costs, more expensive fertilizer and energy, and limited supply on the market. Sellers say prices may begin to soften somewhat over the next 10 days.