Flour prices are continuing to rise in Tajikistan. Meanwhile, weight of non (flatbread costing 1.50 somoni) has decreased. Private bakers had previously used 300 grams of dough for baking such flatbreads. Now they use not more than 270 grams for baking such flatbreads.
Current price for one kilogram of wheat flour at Dushanbe’s bazaars varies from 3.50 to 4.00 somoni depending on grade.
The price for one kilogram of wheat has risen from 2.00-2.50 somoni to 3.00 somoni.
Since 2015, flour prices have risen on average 0.40 somoni annually. In 2015, the price for a 50-kilogram sack of grade 1 flour was 160.00 somoni; in 2016, a 50-kilogram sack of grade 1 flour cost 170.00 somoni; in 2017 – 180.00 somoni; and in 2018 and early 2019 – 190.00 somoni. Current price for a 50-kilogram sack of grade 1 flour is 210.00 somoni.
Experts say the price hike has resulted from the rising cost of wheat in the countries that provide the bulk of Tajikistan’s wheat and flour imports and rising transit tariffs.
According to data from the Agency for Statistics under the President of Tajikistan, current prices for one kilogram of grade 1 flour are 2.90 somoni in Dushanbe, 2.86 somoni in Tursunzoda, 3.10 somoni in Rasht, 2.80 somoni in Bokhtar, 2.90 somoni in Kulob, 2.64 somoni in Khujand, 2.60 somoni in Istaravshan and 3.30 somoni in Khorog.
Current Tajikistan’s requirements in wheat are reportedly 1.7 million tons.
Last year, Tajikistan bought 1.018.9 million tons of wheat from abroad. Kazakhstan provides the bulk of Tajikistan’s wheat and flour imports. According to Kazinform, export price for Kazakh wheat rose 24.6 percent in January this year.
