Baku, September 22, 2025
Meat has become steadily more expensive in Azerbaijan, mirroring trends on the global market. For many, it remains an irreplaceable source of protein, amino acids, and iron – but rising costs are forcing households to cut consumption or switch to cheaper options.
Global pressures
The UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the OECD forecast that by 2034, per-capita consumption of animal products will grow 6% worldwide, driven by rising incomes and urbanization. Meeting this demand requires a 14% rise in production, yet some countries expect declines due to feed costs and regulatory pressure.
FAO’s meat price index hit 127.3 points in July, up 7.3 from a year earlier, then climbed higher in August. Strong beef demand from China and the U.S., tighter lamb supplies in Oceania, and firm domestic consumption in Brazil all pushed prices up.
Impact on Azerbaijan
Locally, beef now averages 16 – 17 manats per kilo, while lamb sells for about 21 manats, compared to 13 and 18 manats last year. State statistics show meat prices rose 6.8% in January – July 2025 compared with the same period in 2024. Imports fell 18% year-on-year, further tightening supply.
Shoppers are adjusting: portioned cuts, ready-to-cook packs, and online sales are gaining ground. Yet most Azerbaijani buyers still prefer the bazaar, where they can inspect meat directly. Many households are shifting toward cheaper proteins such as poultry, mushrooms, and legumes.
Shrinking herds, strained farmers
The national herd is contracting. Cattle numbers fell 7.4% between 2021 and mid-2025, while sheep and goats dropped 15%. Economist Khalid Kerimli notes many farmers are leaving livestock altogether, citing soaring feed costs.
Consumer Union head Eyyub Guliyev highlights to Kaspi another challenge: farmers often must sell to middlemen who resell at steep markups. Without direct market access, producers and consumers both lose out.
Calls for reform
MP Tahir Rzayev warns that prices have reached “critically high” levels and urges municipalities to set up specialized meat kiosks where farmers can sell directly. He and other experts argue that large-scale farms and better conditions for smallholders are key to stabilizing supply.
The debate underscores a central dilemma: without stronger support for domestic livestock and fairer access to markets, meat prices in Azerbaijan could soon converge with European levels – a prospect consumers already stretched by rising food costs hope to avoid.
