Azerbaijan, Baku, 25 August / Trend corr. U.Ismayilova / There is a shortage in granulated sugar and its price rises by one third in the Azerbaijani western regions, regional correspondent of Trend reported.
"Earlier 1kg of granulated sugar cost AZN 0.7, whilst at present its cost rose to AZN 0.9," the correspondent said.
At shops in Baku, 1kg of granulated sugar costs from AZN 0.7 to AZN 0.8.
According to Ismayil Muslimzade, the director of the hugest Imishli sugar plant in Azerbaijan, which belongs to Azersun Open Joint Stock Company (OJSC), the plant did not raise wholesale price of granulated sugar.
Shortage occurred because the plant was closed for overhaul from 20 July to 20 August. Currently, the plant resumed its operations and the plant produces 1,000 tons of sugar beet a day, Muslimzade said.
According to the director of the plant, breakdown at the Georgian Poti port caused by the Georgian and Ossetia conflict promoted shortage of granulated sugar, because the plant receives crude from Brazil through this port.
At present the Georgian Poti port functions in normal routine, whilst delivery of crude base is impossible because of blast at the railway bed.
Imishli sugar plant produces 300,000 tons of sugar a year. A total of 230,000-250,000 tons of them is consumed by the interior market and the rest is exported.
The correspondent can be contacted at: [email protected]