In Tajikistan, an average sugar price rose nearly 24.5 percent in year to April 1,2024, reaching 12.20 somonis per kilogram. Last year, 1 kilogram of sugar in Tajikistan cost on average 9.80 somonis.
Local experts associate the rise in sugar prices in the country with the ban on its export from Russia, which last year accounted for 32 percent of Tajikistan sugar imports.
Neighbors' bans have affected sugar prices in Tajikistan
Recall, the Russian government has announced that it intends to extend its ban on the export of grain and sugar to fellow members of a trading bloc (Eurasian Economic Union) until the end of August in a move that has sparked fear of food shortages around the region.
The Russian Ministry of Economic Development said on March 10 that the decision was motivated by the need to “ensure the country’s food security and to help protect the domestic market in the current climate.”
TASS reported in April that Russia last year produced 6.661 million metric tons of sugar, up 9.9% in annual terms. In January 2024, sugar production reportedly totaled more than 548,000 metric tons or 48.2% above the level in January 2023.
Sugar exports surged from 21,000 metric tons in 2022 to slightly more than 315,000 metric tons in 2023, not including the EAEU. "Annual sugar consumption is at the same time at the level of 5.8 million metric tons," the Rusprodsoyuz Association noted.
The Russian Ministry of Agriculture in March suggested introducing a temporary ban on cane or beet sugar until August 31, 2024.
As Russia accounts for almost one-third of Tajikistan’s sugar imports, Tajikistan has to replace the missing tons with supplies from other countries.
Following Russia, Kazakhstan also imposed ban on export of sugar until the end of summer in order to meet its population's demand for sugar.
Currently, the stock of sugar in warehouses in Kazakhstan is reportedly about 256,000 tons, which is just half of the country's annual requirements in sugar (500,000-550,000 tons).
Kyrgyzstan’s Ministry of Agriculture, Food Industry and Land Reclamation has also proposed to impose a temporary ban on export of sugar beets until the new harvest.
Kaktus.media says the Ministry of Agriculture, Food Industry and Land Reclamation proposes to impose the temporary ban until August 31, 2024.
It is noted that the current stock of sugar in warehouses in Kyrgyzstan is 74,000 tons. Together with the quota for the import of Russian sugar (28,500 tons) it will be 102,500 tons of sugar. Due to its own production of sugar, Kyrgyzstan reportedly covers 64.8 percent of its population’s annual requirements in sugar.
Sugar has already gone up in price
According to data from the country’s Antimonopoly Agency, Tajikistan last year imported 141,500 tons of sugar. Of this amount, more than 45,000 tons were imported from Russia.
In 2023, among the sugar providing countries the greatest share reportedly came from Russia – about 32 percent; Pakistan – about 28 percent; India – 26 percent; Belarus – more than 12 percent; Iran – 1.0 percent; and others.
Last year, Tajikistan reportedly purchased sugar at the rate of US$669.00 per ton, which is US$61.00 more than in 2022.
Over the first three months of this year, Tajikistan has imported more than 50,000 tons of sugar totaling US$34,700, at the rate of US$691.00 per ton, which is US$22.00 more than over the same period last year.
Last year, 48 companies were engaged in supplying sugar to Tajikistan. The following companies were the major suppliers of sugar to the country: Barumand LTD – 22 percent; the Agency for State Material Reserves – 12.4 percent; Closed Joint-Stock Company (CJSC) Obi Zulol – 10.8 percent; Abu Bakri Dilshod LTD – 18.3 percent; and the confectionery factory Amiri – 7.0 percent.
According to some sources, Tajikistan’s sugar consumption rate is 16.8 kilograms per capita per year, which is almost similar to Turkmenistan (18.7 kilograms) and Uzbekistan (17.8 kilograms).
It is to be noted that Tajikistan does not produce sugar due to lack of domestic raw materials.
