AZE.US
A broad range of goods imported from Iran have become more expensive in Azerbaijan, as supply problems linked to the conflict in Iran begin to filter through to local shops and wholesalers.
Retailers say the impact is already visible in food products, detergents, furniture and construction materials. They link the price increases to difficulties in importing certain goods and to broader disruptions affecting transit routes through Iranian territory.
Leyla Nabiyeva, the owner of a grocery store in Baku, said some of the biggest problems are now being seen in vegetable oils and several types of cleaning products. Prices for some dairy products have also moved higher.
According to the sellers cited in the report, cheeses that were previously sold for 1.80 manats are now being priced at around 2.20 to 2.30 manats.
A 250-gram cream product that had sold for 1.30 manats is now around 1.65 manats. Some goods, including certain cheeses, oils and detergents, are also becoming harder to find.
The pressure is not limited to supermarket shelves. Importers and traders say furniture and furniture accessories brought in from Iran have also risen in price, with recent increases estimated at around 10% to 15%.
That means a kitchen furniture set that used to cost 500 manats could now be priced roughly 50 to 75 manats higher. Business owners say the increase reflects both direct import difficulties and rising transport costs.
Part of the problem lies in Iran’s role as a transit corridor. Not only Iranian-made products, but also some goods shipped from China to Azerbaijan, pass through Iranian territory, including routes linked to Bandar Abbas. Delays or disruptions along that corridor can quickly affect prices in Azerbaijan.
Construction materials imported from Iran have also become more expensive. Traders say some items have seen price increases averaging 30% to 35%. In one example cited in the report, a product that had sold for 6 manats is now priced at 7 manats.
Economist Fuad Ibrahimov said the halt in exports from Iran during the first days of the conflict pushed up the cost of detergents, food products and some industrial goods. Even where warehouses still hold reserves, he said, continued problems with fresh deliveries create conditions for further price increases.
He also warned that delays affecting transit cargo through Iran could lead not only to higher prices but also to shortages in some categories if the current situation lasts much longer.