Why Meat Prices Are Rising in Azerbaijan: Economist Weighs In
Meat prices in Azerbaijan have risen again, with retail bone-in veal reaching 19 manats per kilogram and boneless beef reaching 23 manats. Economist Rauf Garayev explained the underlying causes.
Abdulrahman Sadikhli2 min read
Another price increase in meat has been observed in Azerbaijan. Currently, 1 kilogram of bone-in veal costs 19 manats in retail, while boneless meat has reached 23 manats.
F4media.az reports, citing Sharq.az, that economist Rauf Garayev stated that the increase in meat prices could be linked to several factors.
According to him, the market situation should be thoroughly investigated. Currently, meat imported from various countries is also sold in Azerbaijan. Therefore, it is necessary to determine whether there is a real shortage in the market and how justified the price increase is.
The economist believes that the price increase is driven not only by a reduction in the number of animals for slaughter, but also by the general inflation process.
“Butchers themselves shop for groceries and ultimately see the price increases in the country. Livestock sellers and butchers who buy and slaughter animals also raise prices in line with inflation to keep up with the trend. This affects the overall picture,” R. Garayev said.
He noted that the difficulties faced by farmers regarding livestock management are also significant. According to the economist, if the issue is approached seriously, it is possible to prevent problems related to meat supply in Azerbaijan.
R. Garayev stated that it is more appropriate to compare Azerbaijan's meat prices not with Turkey, but with countries located in the same region. According to him, comparisons should also be made with Georgia and Armenia.
The economist also drew attention to updated statistics from Numbeo. According to the data, the average price of 1 kilogram of beef in grocery stores in Georgia is $9.78 US dollars. With this figure, Georgia ranks 75th among 103 countries.
According to the study, the average price of 1 kilogram of beef in neighboring countries is as follows:
