Tomato prices have increased sharply in Kurdistan markets, while fig prices have dropped as supply changes across the region.
Compared with the beginning of August, tomato prices have nearly tripled. Meanwhile, the wholesale price of Akre figs at Erbil’s wholesale market has fallen from 13,000 dinars to between 3,000 and 4,000 dinars per kilogram.
Officials at the Erbil wholesale market linked the changes to supply levels. They said tomato supplies are declining, while fig supplies remain high.
Dana Aziz, a member of the Erbil Wholesale Market Council, said that on Monday that tomato supplies from Erbil are gradually declining. However, tomatoes from Sidekan and Haji Omaran have now reached the market, pushing prices higher.
“Several days ago, Erbil tomatoes sold wholesale for 250 dinars per kilogram,” Aziz said. “Today, the price has reached 500 dinars. Tomatoes from Sidekan and Haji Omaran now cost between 600 and 750 dinars per kilogram.”
Aziz attributed the increase to the approaching autumn season. He said tomato production will decline as the season changes.
Fig prices have moved in the opposite direction. When Akre figs first reached the market last month, their wholesale price reached 13,000 dinars per kilogram. Today, wholesalers sell Akre figs for only 3,000 to 4,000 dinars.
Taxtaq figs also remain cheaper. Their wholesale price currently ranges between 1,000 and 1,500 dinars per kilogram.
Aziz said strong fig supplies have caused the sharp price decline. He explained that prices started high when the season began. However, increasing supplies have pushed prices lower across different fig varieties.
Meanwhile, tomato prices have also risen in Sulaimani’s wholesale market. Haji Ata Mohammed, a spokesperson for the Sulaimani Wholesale Market, said Erbil’s declining tomato supply has affected local prices.
He said wholesale tomatoes currently cost around 750 dinars per kilogram. Tomatoes from Penjwen have also reached the market, but supplies remain too limited to reduce prices.
Fig prices vary by origin. Some varieties sell for about 1,000 dinars per kilogram. However, figs from Zalm and Ahmadawa in Hawraman and Akre still command higher prices, reaching 7,000 dinars per kilogram.
