Onion prices in Tajikistan rise 60% in a month despite larger harvest

Average onion prices in Tajikistan have increased by 60% over the past month, rising from 2.5 to 4 somoni per kilogram ($0.27–0.43). At some retail outlets in the capital, Dushanbe, prices have already reached 5–6 somoni/kg ($0.54–0.65). The sharp increase comes despite higher domestic production, highlighting the growing impact of logistics costs and seasonal factors on pricing.

According to Tajikistan’s Ministry of Agriculture, farmers and agricultural enterprises had harvested nearly 509 thsd tons of onions as of October 9, 2026. By comparison, production in the corresponding categories of farms totaled around 442 thsd tons in January–September 2025. Thus, despite substantial harvest volumes, the domestic market has experienced a significant increase in retail prices.

One of the main reasons for the price increase has been rising transportation and storage costs. In recent years, Tajikistan has been actively expanding its cold storage and vegetable storage capacity, allowing producers to avoid selling their entire harvest immediately after collection. Farmers are holding part of their onion crop for sale during winter and spring, when prices traditionally rise. However, storage expenses and subsequent transportation costs are increasing the final price of the product.

Price trends are also changing in export markets. According to customs data, Tajikistan exported around 24.7 thsd tons of onions, garlic and other bulb vegetables worth nearly $6 mln in January–September 2026. During the same period last year, exports totaled 25.5 thsd tons worth $4.7 mln. Thus, export volumes declined by approximately 3%, while export revenue increased by nearly 27%, indicating a rise in the average value of exported products in this category.

Tags: Tajikistan, onion