Has Bread Become More Expensive, or Has Its Weight Increased?

In recent days, there have been claims that bread prices in Azerbaijan have risen. Social media users report that the price of bread has increased by 5-10 qepiks.

According to consumer complaints, it is difficult to find weight information on factory-produced bread, commonly known as "zavod çörəyi" in Azerbaijan. In many cases, bread packaging does not include weight details. Similarly, bread sold at smaller bakeries and tandir houses often lacks information apart from the price.

Now, many consumers believe that bread prices have gone up.

"Some will use the excuse of 'new types of bread' to raise prices for other types as well. How do I know if this is 600 grams or 500 grams? Am I supposed to carry a scale with me?" says Yagut Mammadova.

According to her, even when the price does not increase, the weight of the bread decreases: "In previous years, an 800-gram loaf was reduced to 500 grams. The price also increased from 30-40 qepiks to 50 qepiks."

There have been no changes in flour prices in the country. According to the State Service for Antimonopoly and Consumer Market Control under the Ministry of Economy, since January 30, the wholesale price of a 50-kilogram sack of flour in Azerbaijan has ranged between 20-28 manats.

Local wheat production in Azerbaijan amounts to 1.2-1.3 million tons annually, which does not meet the country’s demand.

Between January and October 2024, Azerbaijan imported 948.8 thousand tons of soft wheat worth $205.4 million for flour and bread production. This represents a 17% decline, or $41.9 million less, compared to the same period in 2023. According to the State Statistics Committee, the average price of imported wheat was 368 manats per ton.

The "Nur" bread factory told Turan news agency that there has been no price increase, and 510-gram loaves are still sold for 55 qepiks. "On February 1, we introduced a new 620-gram loaf to the market. Since it weighs more, its price has been set at 65 qepiks," the factory representative stated.

The factory explained that the introduction of a new bread variant was driven by market demand for heavier loaves: "Since there is demand for larger loaves, we have started producing a new type."

The company emphasized that the highest demand is for factory-produced bread. Regarding the weight issue, they assured that the loaves comply with standard weight regulations.

Economist Natig Jafarli told Radio Azadliq that an increase in flour production should play a key role in price regulation: "However, there are significant problems here. We only produce 25-26% of the wheat needed for bread production. The remaining wheat must be imported, making us dependent on foreign supplies."

He noted that while the state does not regulate bread prices in Azerbaijan, there are enough legal standards regarding weight and quality: "However, weight regulations are not strictly enforced. Bread manufacturers are required to obtain certification from the relevant authorities confirming compliance with weight and quality standards. But this is where problems arise."

Jafarli emphasized that there are no severe penalties for non-compliance with bread weight and quality standards: "This ultimately leads to problems. If the invoice states a specific weight and price, but the actual weight significantly differs, this constitutes a violation of consumer rights. Such discrepancies could even lead to criminal cases."