Azerbaijan both buys and sells tomatoes. However, the price is always high

According to the State Statistics Committee (SSC), in January-April 2024, Azerbaijan purchased 548 tons of tomatoes worth 304.9 thousand USD from Turkmenistan. During the first four months of 2023, 109.5 tons of tomatoes were imported from Turkmenistan to Azerbaijan. This means that tomato imports from Turkmenistan have increased fivefold. This year, as in the previous year, the average customs value per kilogram of these tomatoes was 56 cents (95 qapik).

In January-October 2023, Azerbaijan also increased its tomato purchases from Turkey by 419 times. Azerbaijan itself is an exporter of tomatoes, which play a major role in the country's non-oil exports.

According to the State Customs Committee (SCC), in the first five months of 2024, Azerbaijan exported 86,067 tons of tomatoes worth 108.587 million USD. During the same period last year, 78,076 tons of tomatoes worth 91.472 million USD were sent abroad from Azerbaijan. Thus, tomato exports have increased in both quantity and value terms.

As for prices, tomatoes are reported to be expensive this year. In May and June, prices ranged between 3 and 5 manats. At this time last year, tomatoes were sold for 2.50-3 manats.

Interestingly, the export price of tomatoes is lower than the price on the domestic markets of the country. According to the SSC, the average export price of 1 kilogram of tomatoes in the first three months of 2024 was 2.38 manats.

The Ministry of Agriculture informed Turan that in Azerbaijan, tomatoes are grown on a total of 18 thousand hectares in both open and closed fields. More than 800 thousand tons of produce are harvested annually.

According to the ministry, tomato production in the country has increased multiple times in recent years: "The ministry pays a subsidy of 280 manats per hectare for greenhouses established on share land, those with documents, and those who declare their produce, regardless of whether they are grown in open or closed conditions."

Regarding the price issue, the ministry states: "Prices are regulated by the market. This is not within our authority."

Agricultural expert Vahid Maharramov told AzadliqRadio that 860 thousand tons of tomatoes are produced annually in Azerbaijan, which amounts to 86 kilograms per capita: "This is the data from the State Statistics Committee and a very high indicator. 200 thousand tons – 20 kilograms per capita – are exported."

According to the expert, the remaining 660 thousand tons should be sufficient for the population, there should be no need for imports, and prices should be twice as low as they are now: "In neighboring Georgia, the population consumes three times less tomatoes than we do but buys them at half the price."

V. Maharramov emphasizes that statistical data do not reflect the truth: "On the other hand, many greenhouses have been put into operation in the country recently. Most of them produce tomatoes. However, in many cases, we see that entrepreneurs cannot bring their produce to market. For this reason, they abandon tomato production. Statistics do not take this into account and automatically show an increase every year."

According to the economist, there is a monopoly in the production and import of tomatoes in the country: "Those who import tomatoes to Russia at low prices cannot enter the domestic market. Oligarchs have created a network here, they both produce tomatoes and own the market. Imports are also in their hands. The high price in Baku markets is due to this monopoly."