Sour Inflation in Uzbekistan – Why Have Lemons Tripled in Price Over a Year?

"What, 55,000 for a kilogram of lemons?!" — such a question can often be heard among buyers at produce markets and supermarkets in Uzbekistan. Usually an affordable fruit for consumers, according to EastFruit experts, is breaking all price records. And representatives of the produce trade warn that this is not yet the limit! Over the past four weeks, lemons on the Uzbekistan market have been an absolute record-breaker in price growth, rising by 65% immediately. Moreover, current lemon prices are approximately 3 times higher compared to the same period last year. As of June 12-13, 2025, the minimum retail prices for fresh lemons in supermarket chains in the capital of Uzbekistan were 53,000 sum/kg ($4.19), although just a month ago the same product was sold at a retail price of 32,000 sum/kg ($2.48), and a year earlier — in June 2024 — at a price of 17,000 sum/kg ($1.35). EastFruit analysts highlight two key factors that influenced such a sharp price increase. Lemon Crisis in ...