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Central Asia Price Bulletin, July 2023

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The Famine Early Warning Systems Network (FEWS NET) monitors trends in staple food prices in countries vulnerable to food insecurity. For each FEWSNET country and region, the Price Bulletin provides a set of charts showing monthly prices in the current marketing year in selected urban centers and allowing users to compare current trends with both five-year average prices, indicative of seasonal trends, and prices in the previous year.

Wheat is the dominant staple food across Central Asia, and rice is animportant substitute. Kazakhstan is the net wheat exporter withinthe region. Pakistan is considered self-sufficient and exports inexceptionally good years, mostly to Afghanistan and other Asiancountries. In Kazakhstan, Saryagash Station serves as a key sourcemarket for wheat exports to Afghanistan and other neighboringcountries. In Afghanistan, Kabul supplies the central provinces and isa transit point between the north, south, east, and west. Jalalabadsupplies the eastern part of the country and acts as a cross-bordermarket with Pakistan. Mazar-e-Sharif supplies northern provincesand, in a good year, the southern provinces as well. Kandaharsupplies the southwestern part of the country. In Pakistan, Lahore isa key market for trade within the region, particularly withAfghanistan. Pakistan accounts for about 70 percent of regional riceproduction, which is exported to regional and international markets.