Food prices rise sharply in Azerbaijan: eggs, meat, butter and vegetables

In Azerbaijan, a significant rise has been observed in September and October this year in the prices of a number of agricultural products, including eggs, meat and butter.

In October the price of a village egg rose from 25 qapik to 45-50 qapik, while first-hand wholesale prices rose to as much as 28-30 qapik. Sellers attribute this to the season: according to them, hens kept at home lay fewer eggs when the weather turns cold.

Agricultural specialist Vahid Maharramov said that, besides village eggs, industrially produced eggs have also become more expensive. According to him, while the seasonal rise in the price of village eggs is natural, the rise in the price of industrial eggs is a case of abusing the situation: “This is unequivocally a ‘cartel’ deal. Because in industrial production lighting is provided around the clock. There is no decline in the hens’ egg production there.”

According to Maharramov, over the past month there has been a serious rise in the prices of all vegetables, as well as meat, various fruits, potatoes, onions, butter and vegetable oils and dairy products. According to the figures he gave, the price of an egg rose from 16 to 19 qapik, tomatoes and cucumbers rose by at least 30-40 percent, and meat, which cost 17 manat 50 qapik at the start of the year, now costs 20 manat, about 20 percent more than last year. The price of the cheapest potatoes rose from 60 qapik to 1 manat 10 qapik, onions from 50-55 qapik to 1 manat 10 qapik, and carrots rose from 1 manat to 1 manat 50 qapik within a month.

According to the State Statistics Committee, consumer prices rose by 5.7 percent in the first nine months of 2026. Food inflation in this period was 6.7 percent, tobacco products rose by 10 percent and alcoholic drinks by 7.6 percent. Maharramov said the price rise continued in October and that official figures understate the real increase because prices are recorded on days when all supermarkets hold discounts at the same time.

The specialist said both the production and the import of butter have declined, which has reduced supply and pushed up the price. According to him, there is also a monopoly in this market and entrepreneurs are not allowed to bring in relatively cheaper products from other countries. Maharramov also said the agricultural sector faces problems with a shortage of specialists, water supply, access to quality seeds, storage and market access.

According to official statistics, annual inflation in Azerbaijan rose to 5.5 percent in September.