Uzbekistan's lemon prices have reached record levels, according to EastFruit. Over four weeks, prices rose by 65%, marking a sharp contrast to the same time last year. Retail lemon prices in Tashkent supermarkets have climbed to around US$4.15 per kilogram, up from US$2.50 a month earlier and US$1.33 a year ago.
EastFruit analysts cite two main drivers behind this surge: A domestic supply shortage and reduced availability from Turkey, the world's top lemon exporter. Unfavorable weather during Turkey's 2024/2025 season significantly cut yields. In early April, Turkey imposed a brief export ban to control domestic prices, but even after lifting the ban, global prices remained high. Turkish lemon prices reached US$1.85 per kilogram by May, four times higher than in 2024.
In Uzbekistan, these international trends were compounded by high logistics costs. With Turkey's season ending and stocks exhausted, Uzbekistan turned to Southern Hemisphere sources, including Argentina, where import prices are lower than local lemons.
Seasonal supply patterns further affect pricing. Most of Uzbekistan's lemons, primarily Meyer lemons, are greenhouse-grown and harvested in three cycles. The October–December harvest forms the bulk of the supply, typically lasting until May. As stocks dwindle by early summer, Meyer lemon retail prices have jumped to around US$5.50 per kilogram. Prices are expected to stabilize between May and October, aided by imports, with potential decreases projected from October–November when the new local harvest begins.
Source: Kun.uz