Bahman Danaei, secretary of the Sugar and Sugar Factories Association in Iran, announced a 40% increase in sugar prices in the country.
One-kilogram packaged sugar has also reached consumers with a 31% price hike.
He cited reasons such as “rising production costs, increased wages, and transportation expenses” for the surge in sugar prices.
In recent years, staple food items consumed by households have topped the list of goods most affected by inflation.
Iranian Families Forced To Consume Cheap Food To Stave Off Hunger
According to a report by the Research Center of the Iran Chamber of Commerce in November 2024, by March 2022, around 32 million people in the country were living below the food poverty line. The organization added that this trend is rapidly expanding due to the severe inflation of recent years.
The secretary of the Sugar and Sugar Factories Association also stated: “The aim of price adjustments is to ensure sustainable production and support the sugar supply chain in the country so that factories can continue operating and food security in this sector is maintained.”
In recent years, officials of Iran’s regime have frequently used the phrase “price adjustments” as a justification for the ongoing increase in commodity prices.
Following the intensifying economic crisis and the regime’s failure to control inflation, recent reports indicate a rise in bread prices across various provinces, with price-setting responsibilities handed over to provincial governors.
In mid-May, the price of raw milk in Iran rose by about 28%, and media outlets predicted that this would lead to a roughly 42% surge in dairy product prices and a significant spike in overall costs.
These price hikes continue in Iran at a time when inflation over the past years has steadily increased the number of people living in poverty.
The state-run daily, Donya-e-Eqtesad reported in September 2024 that the poverty line for a three-person household in Tehran is around 200 million rials (approximately $240) this year. Field reports suggest that this figure can reach as high as 400 million rials (about $480) in the city. Meanwhile, the minimum wage of a worker with two children barely reaches 150 million rials (around $180).
Economic experts have warned that roughly one-third of Iran’s population is unable to meet their basic needs.
