Baku | July 28, 2025
The State Customs Committee of Azerbaijan has released updated statistics on the average import prices of essential food items. According to the data, food imports accounted for 11.1% of the country’s total imports. For example, the average import cost per kilogram is 3.58 manats for meat, 11.86 manats for oil, and 2.76 manats for dairy products.
However, local consumers report a much higher price increase at the retail level for these same goods.
Economist Khalid Kerimli explained that rising prices affect both imported and domestic food, as local production often depends on imported ingredients. He stated that over the past year, the import price index for consumer goods has increased by an average of 27%, significantly impacting the domestic market.
He also highlighted inflation in Azerbaijan’s main food trade partners—Iran, Turkey, and Russia—as a key external factor contributing to price hikes.
Kerimli clarified the gap between import and retail prices: “Customs data reflects bulk import prices. Once goods enter the retail market, costs like logistics, storage, losses, and taxes add up—plus the importer’s profit margin. A two- to threefold markup is economically justified.”
Despite increased local production efforts, experts say inflationary pressures and import dependencies will continue to drive up prices.
