Palaw Index March / 2026

March 2026: Palaw Preparation Costs Surge 19%.

The average cost of preparing palaw in Ashgabat climbed to 81.2 Turkmen manat in March 2026, marking a 19% jump compared to 68.2 manat in March 2025. This notable year-on-year increase was primarily driven by rising meat prices. Costs also edged up 0.9% month-on-month from 80.4 manat in February 2026. Globally, the FAO Food Price Index reflected a modest 1% year-on-year uptick in food prices.

Year-on-Year Price Shifts for Palaw Ingredients in Ashgabat

Prices of palaw ingredients showed mixed results in March 2026 on an annual basis.

• Rising prices: Rice saw the sharpest climb at 34.2%, beef continued its upward trajectory with a 22.6% rise, and carrots increased by 9.6% (see Figure 1).
• Falling prices: Onions dropped 22.2%, while wheat flour dipped 2.4%.
• Sunflower oil held steady year-on-year at 18 manat.

Meat Prices and Household Affordability

Meat prices in Ashgabat have risen steadily since June 2025, largely driven by significant livestock losses – particularly in the Ahal region – caused by drought, malnutrition, and disease. By March 2026, the average retail price reached 85 manat per kilogram, up from 69.3 manat a year earlier. This trend is increasingly straining household budgets, especially as the government ended its longstanding practice of annual 10% wage increases in 2026. With the Palaw Index averaging a 20.4% rise over the past 12 months against a minimum wage of 1,410 manat, food costs are clearly outpacing income growth.

FAO Price Index: Global Trends by Product Category

According to the FAO, the following trends were recorded in March 2026:

• The Vegetable Oil Price Index rose 13.2% year-on-year, driven by persistent supply tightness in the Black Sea region and expectations of stronger feedstock demand amid elevated global energy prices.
• The Cereal Price Index edged up 0.6%, supported by projections of strong harvests and healthy global stocks.
• The All Rice Price Index fell 3.0% across all major market segments, weighed down by harvest pressure, softer import demand, and currency depreciation against the US dollar.
• The Meat Price Index gained 8.0%, buoyed by robust global demand.

Methodology

Prices of ingredients in the Palaw Index are collected for 1 kg of onion, carrot, beef, rice, and flour, and 1 liter of cooking oil. Based on the methodology, in order to cook palaw for a family of four, we use 0.3 liters of cooking oil, 0.5 kg of onion, 1 kg of carrots, 0.6 kg of beef, 1 kg of rice, and 0.5 kg of flour in our formula. Please click here to learn more about the methodology of the Palaw Index.