Tears Not Shed for the Onion: Price Crisis in Turkish Markets

While Turkish citizens expected agricultural prices to drop with the arrival of the harvest season, field reports from local markets tell a different story. Nefes Gazetesi, in today's issue with the controversial headline "Not the Onion, but Its Price Brought Tears to People's Eyes," examined the critical price situation in household food baskets. [1]

60 Lira Shock in Local Markets According to reports published on July 13, 2026, the price per kilogram of dry onions in Turkish markets and supermarkets has reached the 60 Lira mark (exactly 59.99 Lira). This comes as the price of this product was around 38 Lira in June. A 51% price jump in less than a month has delivered a massive shock to consumers. In addition to dry onions, the price of green onions has reached an astronomical 120 Lira per kilogram, and potato prices have exceeded 45 Lira. [1]

This price increase is so severe that buying onions by the piece has now become a necessity for many families, as the price of a single medium onion is currently estimated at over 18 Lira. [1]

Roots of the Crisis: Fuel, War, and Flawed Policies Economic experts believe this inflation is not merely due to seasonal fluctuations. Hidayet Muslu, President of the Turkish Agriculturalists Association (TZD), points out that with the resumption of conflicts in the Middle East, fuel and energy prices have risen sharply. Since Turkish farmers rely heavily on diesel for production and transportation, any price increase at the pump appears directly on the people's tables. [1]

Furthermore, official statistics from the Turkish Statistical Institute (TÜİK) show that although the annual inflation rate decreased to 32.1% in June 2026, food inflation remains at 35.4%, putting extra pressure on lower-income brackets. [2] Flawed agricultural policies in past years and insufficient support for domestic producers have caused Turkey to face serious challenges in producing strategic products. [3]

Serious Warnings for Coming Months Sencer Solakoğlu, a representative of the Republican People's Party (CHP), warned that if the current trend of production costs is not controlled, onion prices could reach 100 Lira by the end of the year. He emphasized that due to low guaranteed purchase prices last year, many farmers were unwilling to replant, and the market is now facing a supply shortage. [1]

Currently, many vendors in local markets complain about the sharp decline in people's purchasing power. Some reports even mention the installation of signs in markets allowing citizens to purchase fruits and vegetables in installments using credit cards; an image that clearly illustrates the depth of the economic crisis in summer 2026. [1]