“Chronicles of Turkmenistan” continues to monitor price fluctuations at Ashgabat grocery markets.
Over the past three months of 2018 prices for all groceries and merchandise have shown a steady growth.This was primarily caused by a 50% increase in petrol prices in February and the soaring dollar exchange rate at “the black market”, which for the time being fluctuates between 13,5 and 14 manats per dollar as well as restrictions pertaining to cash withdrawals overseas at the official rate.
Vegetables
The start of the year saw a price hike (+32%) for vegetables. However, in March prices dropped down again (-20%). To some extent price fluctuations can be explained by seasonal fluctuations but at the end of March the price eventually went up by ~10%.
The majority of vegetables available on store counters are still imported from Iran, Turkey and Kazakhstan.
Since the start of the year the price for potatoes increased by 30% and now a kilo of potatoes costs 3,60 to 5 manats depending on the grade.
In January a kilo of onions was sold at 3,50 manats whereas in February the price occasionally skyrocketed to 6,50 manats. As of late March the price was fluctuating between 3,80 and 5 manats.
Prices for tomatoes went up from 5,80-6,50 to 6-7 manats per kilo whereas cucumbers cost 6-7 to 8 manats and sweet pepper is sold at 5 to 13 manats.
The price for select vegetables has dropped down. For instance, the price for aubergines went down from 10 to 5,40 manats per kilo and for carrots from 2 to 1,50 manats.
Fruits
Prices for fruits decreased in February (-7,6%), but then they soared by almost 27%. In the same period last year prices for fruits increased by 5%.
The price for Iranian apples has not changed and apples are still sold at 8-9 manats per kilo, whereas the price for Turkish apples saw an increase from 14 to 19-23 manats.
The price for bananas soared from 16,5 to 21 manats per kilo, for tangerines from 7,7 to 10 manats and for oranges — from 7,7 to 15.
Canned goods
The price for “BRASIL” canned stewed meat went up from 8 to 13 manats, the price for “Sardinella” sardines increased from 9 to 11 manats, “RITA” brand canned pineapples “RITA” — from 13,80 to 14, RITA green peas from 6 to 6,50, “RITA” corn — from 7,20 to 8,50 manats.
The local company NUR launched the in-house production of peas and corn. Now they cost 6 and 6,60 manats respectively.
From January to March the price for cheese soared by 30% on average. For instance, the price “Russian” cheese increased from 72,50 to 102 manats, Gouda — from 45 to 69, Edamer from 48 to 69 manats whereas a 150-gram pack of “Viola” cream cheese from 12,20 to 12,80 manats.
Over the past three months the price for vegetable oil has gone up by 14% on average.The price for a 1 liter bottle of “Oleina” oil went up from 12,50 до 17,50 manats, “Cinderella” oil (1 liter) — from 11,20 to 15, “Don amber” (3 liter) — from 45 to 48,80 manats, “The abundance crown” (4,7 liter) — from 65 to 73 manats.
The price for sugar went up from 5 manats in January to 7 manats in late March. In privately-owned shops the price for sugar has reached 8 manats per kilo.
The country is still experiencing a shortage of flour and over the past three months the price has gone up by 23% on average whereas the annual increase last year was recorded at 30%.
The price for a kilo of Kazakhstan-imported flour went up from 4 to 4,80 manats while the price for Russian flour skyrocketed from 4,20 to 7 manats.
A 1 kilo pack of “Tsar” flour costs 7,80 manats whereas a two-kilo pack can be purchased at 15.00 manats.Local flour is not available.
Prices for dairy products saw an average increase of 20%.The price for TekSut milk (1 liter) rose from 9,20 to 9,80 manats, locally-produced sour cream— from 3,50 to 5 manats per 300 grams, ayran (1 liter) from 3 to 3,50 manats and kefir from 4 to 5.
Local milk still costs 2 manats per liter.
The price for pasta and cereals saw an average price hike of 17%.The price for imported Russian pasta went up from 6 to 7 manats, rice— from 5 to 5,50, buckwheat — from 6,80 to 7 and peas from 5 to 5,80 manats.
The price for meat increased by 10% on average.
The price for minced meat and boned beef increased from 18 to 20-22 manats per kilo, meat fillet from 26 to 30 manats.
The price for chicken drumsticks in privately-owned stores rose from 13 to 15 manats per kilo whereas state-run stores offer the price of 8 manats but drumsticks are almost never available.
Lamb price has not changed over this period and is still available at 20 manats per kilo.
According to “Chronicles of Turkmenistan”, last year meat prices were restrained and prices were fixed at the same price in all stores. However, currently the price hike for meat is noticeable and different prices are recorded in various retail outlets.
Over the past three months the price for alcohol has gone up by 5-6% on average: Serdar vodka (0,5 liter) — from 16 to 17 manats, Gozbash vodka (0,5 liter) — from 14 to 15 and Turkmen Konyagy cognac (1 liter) — from 35 to 36 manatd.
The price for ZIP beer (0,5 liter) and Berk (0,5 liter) remains at 5 and 7 manats respectively.
The price for coffee soared by 15% on average. The price for MacCoffee (20 grams) increased from 1,40 to 1,70 manats, Jacobs (190гр) — from 53 to 60, Nescafe (100 grams) — from 45 to 48,90, Carte noire — from 25,80 to 28,90 manats.
Prices for beverages and juices saw a price hike of 12%.The price for a 1 liter carton of Saba juice went up from 5 to 5,30 manats, 7gun — from 3,50 to 3,80.
The price for locally produced carbonated beverages increased from 1.00 to 1.50 manats. 1 liter bottles of Cola, Fanta, Sprite still cost 3,50 manats, but the price for 0,5 liter bottles went up from 1,50 to 2.00 manats.
Prices for cleaning and hygiene products have gone up much more considerably than food prices.For example, the price for Home Plus detergent (400 grams) increased from 5 to 7 manats, a Barfatan bleacher (1 liter)— from 1,60 to 3,50 manat, Schauma shampoo (380 ml) from 8 to 11 manats, NIVEA — from 8 to 26 manats (!), Molped female sanitary napkins (40 pieces) — from 8 to 20 manats (!).
The prices for household appliances have doubled.
Residents are getting outraged by a constant price hike and staff redundancies.Correspondents of “Chronicles of Turkmenistan” report that price tags are no longer updated in many shops as prices for various goods keep changing.
One can see customers at the checkout who are returning merchandise as they used old prices as reference but now they do not have enough money to pay all the bills.