Chicken fillet prices have risen in Azerbaijan. In recent days, some supermarkets have either run out of fillet or have been selling it at higher prices. The price of one kilogram has reached up to 10 manats at some retail outlets.
“Operative Information Center-OMM”, citing Khazar Khabar, reports that shoppers have noted a marked increase in chicken fillet prices in recent weeks.
“It used to cost 4 manats and 80 gepiks; now it is 7 manats and 90 gepiks,” one shopper said.
Another shopper said the product had become 1-2 manats more expensive than before.
“We have felt the price increase over the past month”
Shoppers said the price rises were not limited to fillet. They have also noticed increases in the prices of several other chicken products.
“In general, we have felt some increase in the prices of chicken products. There is no uniform price for all of them. Everyone does what they want,” another shopper said.
Another customer said chicken products had become 2-3 manats more expensive recently.
Shoppers said the higher cost of a product widely used in families’ everyday meals was putting additional pressure on their budgets.
Vendors said chicken fillet has also been in short supply in recent days.
“Fillet has been unavailable for the past two or three days. This is causing dissatisfaction among customers,” one vendor said.
Another vendor said the product had been difficult to find for nearly a week and that its price had risen by about 50-60 gepiks in recent days.
Other vendors attributed the shortage mainly to limited supplies of the product.
“It has never been like this before. There had never been a shortage like this,” one vendor said.
Fillet prices rise from 6.50 manats to 9-10 manats
Vendors said the price increase had taken place gradually rather than all at once.
“We used to sell it for 7.50-7.80 manats. Now it is 8.20-8.50 manats,” one vendor said.
Another vendor said the product had previously cost 7.80 manats and was now selling for 8.50 manats.
At another retail outlet, fillet prices rose from 6.50-7 manats to 9 manats.
Some vendors also said the price had reached 10 manats at one point.
Higher demand leads to a shortage in the market
Myrvat Hasanli, chairman of the Association of Poultry Meat, Egg Producers and Exporters, said higher demand for chicken fillet had caused a short-term shortage in the market.
He said the return of residents from holidays and an increase in tourist arrivals in September had boosted demand for chicken, particularly fillet and thighs.
Hasanli said the wholesale price of chicken fillet from producer factories had not changed compared with the same period last year.
“The significant increase in tourist arrivals in the country and the rise in the price of red meat increased demand for our product. That is why a minor shortage emerged. That shortage has already eased, and supermarkets have had enough fillet since yesterday and today,” the association chairman said.
He said prices were also rising in regional countries amid higher demand for chicken meat.
