Palaw Index January / 2026

January 2026: Palaw Preparation Costs Increase by 27.3%.

In January 2026, the average cost of preparing palaw in Ashgabat rose to 79.3 Turkmen manat, representing a 27.3% increase from 62.3 manat in January 2025. This sharp year-on-year rise was driven primarily by higher meat prices. On a month-on-month basis, however, the cost declined by 5.5% compared with December 2025, when palaw preparation averaged 83.9 manat. This local trend diverges from global developments, as the FAO’s Food Price Index registered a 0.6% year-on-year decrease.

Annual Price Changes for Palaw Ingredients in Ashgabat

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

• Increases: Beef prices surged by 42.6%, wheat flour 6.2%, onions 5.1%, carrots 4.9%, rice 3.4% and sunflower oil prices edged up by 0.2% (see Figure 1).
• No price declines were recorded in January 2026.

Meat Prices Continue to Rise

Meat prices in Ashgabat have risen sharply since June 2025, largely due to widespread livestock losses – particularly in the Ahal region – reportedly caused by drought, malnutrition, and disease. These losses have placed additional pressure on already strained veterinary services, increasing the risk of disease outbreaks and exacerbating meat shortages. As of January 2026, the average retail price of meat in Ashgabat reached 90 manat per kilogram, up from 63.1 manat in January 2025.

How does it Compare to Salary Increases in Turkmenistan?

In 2026, authorities discontinued the long-standing practice of regular annual 10% salary increases. The current monthly minimum wage stands at 1,410 manat. Between January and December 2025, the Palaw Index (PI) increased by an average of 16.3%, exceeding the historical 10% minimum wage adjustment. This indicates that palaw-related food prices rose faster than wage growth, placing additional pressure on household purchasing power.

FAO Price Index: Global Trends by Product Category

According to the FAO, in January 2026:

• The Vegetable Oil Price Index rose by 10.2% year on year, driven by continued supply tightness in the Black Sea region.
• The Cereal Price Index declined by 3.9%, reflecting expectations of good harvests and high global stock levels.
• The All Rice Price Index increased by 1.8%, supported by firmer demand, particularly for fragrant rice varieties.
• The Meat Price Index rose by 6.1% due to strong 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.