Azerbaijan.US
Prices of cooking oil in Azerbaijan have climbed sharply, with popular brands now selling for 8 manats, and in some cases up to 9 manats, compared with 5-6 manats just months ago. The steepest increases are seen in oils imported from Turkey.
Shoppers say the rise has been sudden and painful, arguing that prices have surged faster than product quality. “We used to buy oil for 4–5 manats. Now it’s nearly double,” consumers told local media.
Experts point to Azerbaijan’s heavy reliance on imports as a key vulnerability. Estimates suggest that only 10-15% of cooking oil sold in the country is produced from domestic raw materials, leaving prices exposed to developments abroad.
Economist Natig Jafarli says inflation inside Turkey is one of the main drivers. As production and retail prices rise there, export prices follow. “When costs increase in Turkey’s domestic market, the impact is immediately felt by importing countries,” he notes.
Supply disruptions linked to Ukraine have also played a role. A portion of Turkey’s oil industry previously depended on Ukrainian sunflower and corn oil, which was imported, refined or bottled, and then re-exported. Ongoing logistical and production challenges have reduced volumes reaching global markets, pushing prices higher.
According to analysts, the solution lies not in short-term price controls but in long-term structural reform. Expanding sunflower and corn cultivation, they argue, would reduce import dependence. Corn, in particular, has a dual role – it is used both for oil production and as animal feed.
Rising feed costs have already affected livestock numbers in recent years, highlighting the need for coordinated agricultural policy. Specialists say a comprehensive state program linking crop production and animal husbandry could help stabilize both sectors.
If domestic output increases and reliance on imports declines, experts believe cooking oil prices could eventually level off. For now, however, consumers are likely to continue feeling the pressure at grocery store shelves.
