DUSHANBE, September 18, 2013, Asia-Plus – Specialists from the Ministry of Economic Development and Trade (MoEDT) expect prices for wheat and domestic wheat flour to drop in Central Asia within the next months due to above average wheat harvests.
“In Tajikistan, prices for wheat and wheat flower will drop or will remain stable due to the upcoming above average wheat harvest and inexpensive wheat imports from Kazakhstan,” the MoEDT specialists say.
The monthly report for September 2013,
Monitoring and Early Warning in Tajikistan
, notes that the main imported food products to Tajikistan are grain and wheat flour. For January to July of 2013, 339,200 tons of grain with an average price of 351 USD per ton, and 116,800 tons wheat with an average price of 440 USD per ton, were imported to the country. This is 14.3% less grain and 44.5% less wheat flour when compared to the same period of 2013.
In August 2013, prices for wheat flour reportedly remained stable. As of 30 August, 2013, the average price for a 50-kilogram sack of locally produced first grade wheat flour on Dushanbe markets was 128.50 somoni (equivalent to 27.00 USD), whereas in July the price was 130.00 somoni. The price for first grade wheat flour produced in Kazakhstan was 135 somoni (equivalent to 28.30 USD), while in July it was 130 somoni.
The report notes that in August, wheat prices remained unchanged in Khujand (Sughd province) and Qurghon Teppa (Khatlon province) markets while wheat flour prices in Gharm and Khorog (Gorno Badakhshan) dropped slightly but it is necessary to note that the prices remain as high compared to the same period of last year.
