Aze,US
Food costs in Azerbaijan continue to climb, with residents reporting noticeable price increases for basic goods, weaker purchasing power, and sharp jumps in certain items since the start of the year.
The food price index has increased by 4.3% year-on-year, according to a report by the UN Food and Agriculture Organization. The global trend has also affected Azerbaijan, where rising prices are being recorded in both supermarkets and traditional markets.
Residents of Baku say the sharpest increases are seen in everyday essentials such as potatoes, meat, and milk. In some cases, prices for fruits and vegetables have risen significantly compared with last year. Vendors confirm higher costs, attributing them to rising expenses, but also note a separate concern – customer traffic has declined.
Price disparities between stalls remain wide, sometimes reaching 1 to 1.5 manats, while demand stays weak. Point-specific increases are also visible: pomegranate prices have climbed from around 2 to 2.5 manats, and several fruits have risen by roughly 20–30 gapiks per kilogram.
A similar pattern is observed in the regions. Residents of Tovuz and Goychay report that their usual shopping budgets are no longer sufficient, with some food items rising by 15–20% since January. Higher transportation and procurement costs are cited among the main drivers of the increase.
Economist Rashad Asanov notes that although overall inflation remains relatively contained, pressure on food prices persists. One key factor is the insufficient domestic production of potatoes, which has increased reliance on imports and pushed prices higher. Price growth is also evident in meat, dairy products, eggs, and vegetables.
Additional pressure comes from rising fuel costs, import conditions, and drought-related lower yields. Experts believe these factors will continue to drive food prices upward through 2026.
In recent months, food products have risen on average by 5–10%. Current market prices place milk at about 2–3 manats per liter, beef at 8–9 manats per kilogram, potatoes near 1.5 manats per kilogram, onions between 0.5 and 1.5 manats, bread at 0.70–0.90 manats, and tomatoes roughly 2–4 manats.