Turkey Association of Chambers of Commerce President Semsi Bayraktar: “The biggest difference observed before the start of Ramadan between grower prices and retail prices was observed in cabbages, with 559%. This was followed by apples with 286%, dried apricots worth 285%, parsley with 272% and green peppers with 264 %.
The highest increase in retail prices were apples with 24.9 %, followed by eggplants with 21.5%, cabbages with 18.3 % and by spinach with 18.1%. On the other hand, the biggest decrease in retail prices of fresh products was observed in green peppers with a 36.5% decline followed by tomatoes with 12.4 %, cucumber 7.6% and zucchini by 3.5%.
On the grower side, the biggest price increase occurred in potatoes with 75.4% followed by spinach with 50%, lemon with 29% and eggplant with 22%. However the price increase in potatoes can be misleading. Old products were sold in the market until the end of April. With the start of harvest in Adana, new harvest potatoes and onions have since entered the market which drove up the prices at the grower level.
Comparing current prices to those of previous year, we observe a price decrease in 6 products and price increases in 27 products. The products with the biggest price decrease compared to 2017 were tomatoes with 12%, potatoes with 5% and chickpeas with 4%.
On the other side dried figs were the products with the highest price increase at 65 % followed by onions with 41 %, zucchinis with 40 % and cucumbers with 33%.
Comparing the prices between 2017 and 2018 on the grower side, there was a price drop in 3 product and price increase in 26 products. The biggest decrease was in red lentils with 26 % followed by beans with 20 % and by green lentils with 8%. The biggest increase on the grower prices were in cucumber with 104% followed by dried with at 84 %, apple with 83 % and onion at 72 %.
The consumption of certain goods increased during Ramadan, however growers and retailers should not be taking advantage of the situation. They should not be thinking of short term profits and consider the benefits to the consumer as well. Consumers should be able to buy good quality products at reasonable prices in the month of Ramadan.”
Source: Hurriyet