“Wait, 55,000 soums per kilo of lemons?!” – such exclamations have become common among shoppers at Uzbekistan’s fresh produce markets and supermarkets. A fruit that was once affordable is now setting price records, according to EastFruit experts – and fruit and vegetable traders warn that the peak may not have been reached yet.
Over the past four weeks, lemons have shown the sharpest price increase among all produce in Uzbekistan, surging by 65%. Moreover, current lemon prices are approximately three times higher than during the same period last year. As of June 12–13, 2025, the lowest retail prices for fresh lemons in major supermarket chains in Tashkent were 53,000 UZS/kg ($4.19), whereas just a month earlier, the same lemons were being sold at 32,000 UZS/kg ($2.48). A year ago, in June 2024, the price was only 17,000 UZS/kg ($1.35).
EastFruit analysts highlight two key factors behind this sharp price increase:
1. Lemon Crisis in Turkey
Since the current market is dominated by imported lemons, pricing is largely shaped outside of Uzbekistan. The main external factor is the situation in Turkey, the world’s leading lemon exporter. During the 2024/2025 season, Turkey faced a dramatic drop in lemon yields and product quality due to adverse weather conditions. In early April, Turkish authorities even announced a temporary export ban on lemons to stabilize domestic prices – a decision that was reversed the very next day.
Nonetheless, the global market reacted with a steep price surge: by early May 2025, lemon prices in Turkey reached 60 Turkish lira per kilogram ($1.56), which is 3–4 times higher than in the same period last year. Prices have only continued to rise since then.
Given the high logistical costs of importing lemons to Uzbekistan, domestic prices have risen accordingly. As Turkey’s lemon season nears its end and its stock levels remain critically low, importers in Uzbekistan have begun sourcing lemons from countries in the Southern Hemisphere, including Argentina – where imported lemons have actually been cheaper than local ones.
Read also: Early Harvest and High Demand Halve Uzbekistan’s Sweet Cherry Export Season
2. Seasonality and Local Supply Depletion
The second major factor is seasonality. Uzbekistan primarily grows and consumes the Meyer lemon, locally known simply as the “local lemon.” Due to the country’s climate, lemons are cultivated in greenhouses – both heated and unheated – mostly by small-scale growers.
Harvesting occurs in three cycles per year: August–September, October–December, and January–February. The peak season in terms of volume is October–December, and local lemons are typically available on the market until the end of May, after which remaining stocks are sold off.
By early summer, local lemon supplies are nearly exhausted, triggering a sharp price hike. As of June 12–13, 2025, local lemons were being sold in supermarkets at 70,000 UZS/kg ($5.53), while imported lemons from Argentina were available at the lower price of 53,000 UZS/kg ($4.19). In recent years, the relatively low and stable lemon prices in Uzbekistan from May/June to October were largely sustained by imports.
Forecast: High Prices Likely to Persist Until October–November
Considering the seasonality and international supply conditions, the price outlook for lemons in Uzbekistan over the coming months remains unfavorable. Until the first local harvest arrives in mid to late August, prices are expected to stay high – or even continue to increase.
Some consumers may find themselves drinking traditional Uzbek tea without lemons, or switching to coffee altogether. Unfortunately, global coffee prices have also risen sharply.
Will prices fall once the new local crop hits the market? Will they return to more affordable levels? Market analysts are not optimistic. The first harvest tends to be small, so any significant price drop is likely only in October–November, when the main harvest season begins.
