Palaw Index October / 2025

October 2025: Palaw Preparation Costs Increased by 16.3%.

In October 2025, the average cost of preparing palaw in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, reached 77.4 Turkmen manat, marking a 16.3% jump from 66.5 manat in October 2024. The rise was primarily driven by higher meat prices. Compared with September 2025 (76.3 manat), this represents a 1.4% month-on-month increase. Globally, food prices showed a slight decline, with the FAO’s Food Price Index recording a 0.4% annual decrease.

Annual Price Changes for Palaw Ingredients in Ashgabat

Prices of key palaw ingredients in Ashgabat shifted notably in October 2025.

• Declines: Sunflower oil dropped 23.9%, carrots 11.7%, and rice 4.8% year-on-year.
• Increases: Onion prices surged 89.9%, beef rose 33.5%, and wheat flour climbed 13.9% (see Figure 1).

Meat prices keep increaing

Meat prices in Ashgabat have surged sharply since June 2025 because much of the livestock — especially in the Ahal region — are dying, reportedly due to drought, malnutrition, and diseases. The spike in animal deaths is further straining already weak veterinary services, raising fears of outbreaks and contributing directly to the meat shortage.

How does it compare to salary increases in Turkmenistan?

In 2025, Turkmenistan’s minimum wage rose by 10% to 1,410 manat, following a pattern of steady annual increases in previous years. As of 2025, the minimum monthly pensions are 550 manat. Between January and October 2025, the Palaw Index (PI) recorded an average 13% rise in prices. However, the recent uptick in the PI suggests that food prices are growing faster than wages, eroding purchasing power of consumers in Turkmenistan.

FAO Price Index: Global Trends by Product Category

According to the FAO:

• The Vegetable Oil Price Index increased 10.9% year-on-year, driven by limited supplies from the Black Sea region due to harvest delays and cautious farmer sales. The Cereal Price Index declined 9.5%, reflecting lower international quotations for wheat and other grains. In Turkmenistan, on the other hand, wheat flour prices have risen by 13.9% in the same period. Most of the consumed wheat flour in Turkmenistan is domestically produced. Only a small fraction of the consumed wheat is imported from abroad, mainly from Kazakhstan and Russia.
• The All Rice Price Index fell 2.5%, as intensified market competition and new harvests in northern hemisphere exporters pushed prices down.
• The Meat Price Index rose 4.8%, led by higher bovine meat prices from Australia amid 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.