Palaw Index February / 2026

February 2026: Palaw Preparation Costs Increase by 26%.

In February 2026, the average cost of preparing palaw in Ashgabat increased to 80.4 Turkmen manat, up 25.7% from 64.0 manat in February 2025. This significant year-on-year rise was mainly driven by higher meat prices. On a monthly basis, costs also rose by 1.5% from January 2026, when it stood at 79.3 manat. This upward trend contrasts with global patterns, as the FAO Food Price Index recorded a 1% year-on-year decline.

Annual Price Changes for Palaw Ingredients in Ashgabat

Prices of all six palaw ingredients increased in February 2026 on a year-on-year basis.

• Increases: Rice prices increased sharply by 44.6%, beef prices continued their upward trend increasing by 26.1%, wheat flour 17.1%, carrots 15.5%, onions 14.3%, and sunflower oil recorded a modest increase of 0.7% (see Figure 1).
• No price declines were observed in February 2026 on a year-on-year basis.

Meat Prices Continue to Rise

Meat prices in Ashgabat have risen steadily since June 2025, largely due to livestock losses – particularly in the Ahal region – caused by drought, malnutrition, and disease. These pressures have strained veterinary services, increasing the risk of further outbreaks and deepening shortages. By February 2026, the average retail price reached 85 manat per kilogram, up from 67.4 manat a year earlier.

How does it Compare to Salary Increases in Turkmenistan?

In 2026, the government discontinued its long-standing policy of annual 10% wage increases. The current monthly minimum wage stands at 1,410 manat. Between February 2025 and February 2026, the Palaw Index rose by an average of 19.1%, significantly outpacing the historical 10% wage adjustment. This suggests that food costs related to palaw are rising faster than incomes, placing added pressure on household budgets.

FAO Price Index: Global Trends by Product Category

According to the FAO, in February 2026:

• The Vegetable Oil Price Index increased by 11.7% year on year, reflecting weaker import demand amid high prices and increased export supply from Argentina.
• The Cereal Price Index fell by 3.5%, supported by expectations of strong harvests and ample global stocks.
• The All Rice Price Index edged up by 0.4%, driven by continued demand for Basmati and Japonica varieties.
• The Meat Price Index rose by 8.0% supported by strong demand from China and the United States, which helped maintain export prices in key suppliers such as Australia and Brazil.

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.