Onion Price Crisis in Turkey: 15 Lira per Piece and Immediate Government Response with Tariff Reduction

Price Shock in Turkish Markets: 15 Lira per Onion In recent days, reports from media outlets such as Halk TV indicate a critical situation in the Turkish food market. The price of onions, a strategic item in the food basket of households in this country, has reached unbelievable levels. While the purchase price from farmers in regions like Amasya is reported between 15 and 25 Lira per kilogram, the final price for consumers in major cities has surged drastically, with a single onion being sold for 15 Lira in some areas [3]. This deep price gap between the farm and the table has sparked a wave of dissatisfaction among citizens.

Immediate Government Intervention; Presidential Decree in the Official Gazette To counter this situation and prevent hoarding and further price increases, the Turkish government took action to amend the import regime between July 11 and 13, 2026. According to a decree published in the Official Gazette (Resmi Gazete) with the President's signature, the customs tariff for dry onion imports, previously 49.5%, was temporarily reduced to 5% [1]. Per this resolution, this tariff reduction will remain valid until August 31, 2026, to increase supply in the domestic market and balance prices by facilitating imports [2].

Market Analysis and Producer Reaction Economic experts believe that late spring rains caused a delay in this year's harvest, which reduced supply in the market [3]. However, local producers have expressed concern about the timing of this tariff reduction. They believe that while the new crop is entering the market, low-cost imports could harm domestic farmers. On the other hand, aiming to protect consumers, the government has also applied tariff changes to other products, including walnuts and pasta, to maintain trade balance and food security [4].

Market Outlook in the Coming Weeks It is expected that with the implementation of this resolution and the arrival of new imported shipments, pressure on the onion market will decrease. Analysts predict that within the next 15 days, as imports coincide with the peak of the domestic harvest, prices will return to normal [3]. Nevertheless, government critics believe that such temporary solutions are merely a sedative for structural inflation in Turkey's agricultural sector, and the need for fundamental reforms in the distribution chain is still felt.