The annual report of the Ministry of Economic Development and Trade, Monitoring and Early Warning, states: “Although it is expected that access to regional produce from the region will be adequate, an increase in the price of wheat and wheat flour is expected in Tajikistan due to an increase in regional export prices and an increase in seasonal demand for stockpiling in anticipation of winter.”

The Ministry specialists believe that the continued depreciation of the national currency will have increased pressure on imported food prices.

According to the Economic Development Ministry, in November, an increase in prices for wheat flour was observed in Tajikistan’s markets in comparison to the month of October.

The report notes: “As of 5 December 2014, the price of a sack (50 kg) of local 1 ^st rate flour was TJS 153.0 (USD 30.0), while it cost TJS 144.5 (USD 28.8) in October; Kazakh 1 ^st rate flour was TJS 161.5 (USD 31.7), while it cost TJS 153.13 (USD 30.6) in October.”

According to FAO, Kazakhstan’s wheat production and export is the largest in the region, and the countries wheat exports are just a little bit lower than last year.

Kazakhstan is the major supplier of wheat and flour in Tajikistan.