The socio-economic tension in Iran in recent days and the instability observed in the markets do not go unnoticed in the economic agenda of the region's countries. Specifically, the acceleration of inflation, the depreciation of the national currency, and difficulties in the logistics chain directly affect Iran's export potential. Against the backdrop of these processes, changes in the prices of products imported from Iran to Azerbaijan, especially daily consumer goods, are noteworthy. One of the most discussed issues is the price dynamics of nuts, dried fruits, and especially dates, for which demand sharply increases on the eve of the month of Ramadan. How the current situation in Iran will affect the prices of these products and the supply in the local market is also one of the main pressing questions for society.
In a statement to Modern.az, Akif Nasirli, Chairman of the Center for Liberal Economists, stated that the recent developments in Iran, particularly the uncertainties in the economic and logistics sectors, also affect the prices of products imported from that country to Azerbaijan. According to him, overall, the impact is more pronounced on products that are directly dependent on imports and have limited alternative supply sources.
“Current observations indicate a risk of price increases for some agricultural products imported from Iran, particularly vegetables, fruits, and seasonal products. The main reasons for this are rising prices in Iran's domestic market, increased transportation costs, as well as delays in border crossing and logistics processes. Since these factors increase the cost price for importers, they can ultimately affect market prices.
Regarding nuts and dried fruits imported from Iran to Azerbaijan, no sharp price increase is currently observed. However, if the processes prolong and Iran's production and export capabilities become limited, a gradual price increase for these products may occur in the coming months. Almonds, pistachios, raisins, and various types of dried fruits are considered to be in the risk group.”
Akif Nasirli also drew attention to the question of how date prices will change on the eve of the month of Ramadan:
“One of the most discussed products on the eve of Ramadan is dates. Although Iran is one of the main suppliers of dates to the Azerbaijani market, our country also imports dates from Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Pakistan, and other countries. For this reason, a certain increase in date prices may be observed before Ramadan, but this increase is more related to the rise in seasonal demand. The current situation indicates that the risk of date scarcity is not high, and demand is expected to be met through alternative sources in the market.
Overall, the ongoing processes in Iran may create a psychological and logistical impact on the prices of some imported products in the short term. However, the relatively diversified import geography in Azerbaijan currently limits the risks of sharp price increases or serious product shortages,” he noted.
It should be noted that from January to October of last year, products worth 509.9 million dollars were imported from Iran to Azerbaijan. The main imported products are fruits and vegetables, construction materials
