A quiet panic over foot-and-mouth disease spreading among livestock has begun to reshape food preferences in Azerbaijan.
Over the past several days, fish and poultry sales have surged, especially in Baku’s markets, where consumers appear to be avoiding beef and lamb. The shift in demand has triggered a notable rise in fish prices, traders say.
At major markets, the price of fish has climbed by 0.5 to 1 manat per kilogram. Sellers insist that the spike stems not only from rising demand but also from supply-side pressures.
“Trout now sells for 12-13 manats per kilo, Turkish dorado has reached 16 manats, carp is 8 manats, white amur 8-9, and river perch around 6,” one fishmonger told ATV News.
The price increase, however, has been uneven: sea and river fish became 50 gapiks to 1 manat more expensive, while lake fish have largely held steady.
A similar surge is visible in the poultry market, where demand is up but prices remain stable.
“We used to sell around 50 chickens a day – now it’s closer to 70 or 80,” said one vendor. “The uptick started about two weeks ago.”
Economic analysts note that the phenomenon reflects a textbook market reaction: when public fears shift consumption, supply and demand realign, and sellers adjust prices accordingly.
