Households in Tajikistan are facing a steep increase in sugar prices, with rates rising sharply in April 2026 and putting pressure on daily expenses.

Retail prices for sugar have moved up from about 9-11 somoni per kilogram in late March to around 12-14 somoni. The rise has been even steeper in bulk markets, where a 50-kg sack is now selling for more than 500 somoni, compared to 380-400 somoni just a few weeks earlier, according to local media reports, The Caspian Post reported.

The country depends heavily on imports to meet its sugar demand. In 2025, it imported over 117 million kilograms of sugar valued at more than $191 million. Major supplies come from Russia, Belarus and India, with additional shipments from Pakistan and Kazakhstan. Smaller quantities are sourced from Azerbaijan, Iran, Uzbekistan, and other regions.

With little domestic production, the country's sugar market remains sensitive to global and regional changes. Any export limits in supplier nations, shifts in currency values, or higher transport costs tend to push prices up quickly.

Global factors are also adding to the rise. The Food and Agriculture Organization reported a 2.4% increase in overall food prices in March 2026, with sugar recording the sharpest jump of 7.2% in a single month, driven by higher oil prices and ongoing geopolitical tensions.