With temperatures soaring across Asia, lemon prices have spiked dramatically, making the citrus fruit increasingly unaffordable for many consumers. In Rawalpindi's open markets, local desi lemons are now selling for as much as Rs1,000 per kilogram (around $3.60), with prices reaching Rs1,100 in some suburban areas. Even the less-preferred Chinese variety, locally known as "China dummy khatti," has climbed to Rs800 per kilogram (approximately $2.90).
A similar trend is being observed in southern Thailand. At the Sap Sin Plaza Market in Songkhla's Muang District, lemon prices have surged to 120 Baht per kilogram (about $3.25) due to reduced production caused by the ongoing heatwave. Despite the price hike, demand for lemons remains steady, further tightening supply and pushing prices higher.
One of the main concerns shared by consumers in both countries is the lack of juice in the currently available lemons, compounding frustration as prices soar. According to Ghulam Qadir Mir, President of the Anjuman-e-Tajran Sabzi Mandi in Pakistan, the local lemon crop has yet to fully reach the markets. "The intense heat arrived earlier than expected, causing demand to spike nearly threefold, while supply remains below normal," he explained. He expects this price trend to persist through the current week, with some relief anticipated next week as larger volumes of both local and imported lemons begin arriving.
In Thailand, the supply shortage has prompted many consumers to seek alternatives. More people are now buying lemons directly from farmers' gardens or at local agricultural markets, which operate on specific weekdays. These markets allow shoppers to bypass middlemen, often offering better deals, such as half a kilogram of lemons for 30 Baht ($0.80), or Tahiti lemons, prized for their juiciness, at 60 Baht per kilogram ($1.60).
In response to the situation, some Thai farmers have begun selling lemon saplings, priced between 80 and 100 Baht ($2.15–$2.70) each, encouraging home cultivation. This has sparked increased interest among consumers eager to grow their own supply and avoid price volatility.
Across both countries, the sharp rise in lemon prices highlights the strain that extreme weather can place on food supply chains. As heatwaves grow more frequent, both consumers and producers are seeking ways to adapt—from diversifying supply sources to promoting direct-to-consumer sales and home growing.
Source 1: Pattaya Mail
Source 2: The Express Tribune