Sugar Hits ₦5,000 – But Tomatoes Keep Falling! 4 Major Reliefs This Week

CTN Market Watch: Week 31 – Where to shop smart this week

Column summary intro:
Welcome to CTN Market Watch – your weekly companion for finding quality goods at reasonable prices across Nigeria. Each week, we break down current market trends, highlight the best spots to buy staple foods, vegetables, protein, and household items, and help you avoid price gouging. Plus: global price moves that affect your wallet. Here’s what’s happening in Week 31.

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Because we don’t just give prices — we tell you where to go, when to buy, and what’s coming next week. No other platform breaks down local and global market shifts this clearly, this fast, and this free. Bookmark this column.

Global market brief – how the world affects your shopping this week

· Sugar prices up another 6% – Brazil crop now 35% below normal. Local sugar has crossed ₦5,000/kg in some cities.
· Wheat prices stable – Russia export ban fully priced in. Flour and bread may pause but won’t drop.
· Palm oil futures flat – Indonesia cap stable. Local palm oil may stabilize soon.
· Rice prices stable – Vietnam holding. Local rice demand still high.
· Crude oil at $87/barrel – diesel stable at ₦1,300–₦1,450.

What this means for you:
Sugar is now a full national crisis – ₦5,000/kg in Lagos. Tomatoes keep falling – second week of relief. Bread and flour may pause. Palm oil likely stabilizing. Local rice still expensive but holding.

Week 31 market snapshot (July 27 – August 2)

· Sugar now ₦4,800–₦5,200/kg in Lagos – crisis. Buy wherever below ₦4,500.
· Tomatoes down another 20% – now ₦18,000–₦24,000 per basket in many cities.
· Palm oil paused – no major movement this week.
· Local rice flat – ₦78,000–₦83,000 per 50kg.
· Bread stable – ₦2,500–₦2,800, pause after weeks of increases.
· Beans flat – supply from North-Central improving.

4 major reliefs this week:

1. Tomatoes – down another 20%, best price in 3 months
2. Palm oil – paused, buy now
3. Bread – stable, buy weekly
4. Beans – flat, stock up

4 major worries:

1. Sugar – now ₦5,000, still rising
2. Flour – high but stable for now
3. Local rice – still expensive
4. Frozen chicken – diesel costs stubborn

Best buys by region – what to pay (reasonable cost guide)

Southwest (Lagos, Ibadan, Abeokuta)

· Tomatoes (1 basket): ₦18,000–₦22,000 – Idi-Oro – down again, BUY NOW
· Ofada rice (50kg): ₦78,000–₦83,000 – Mushin – flat
· Frozen chicken (1kg): ₦5,800–₦6,300 – Agege – stable
· Palm oil (1 litre): ₦4,500–₦5,000 – Mushin – paused
· Bread (600g sliced): ₦2,500–₦2,800 – stable
· Sugar (1kg): ₦4,900–₦5,300 – Mushin – crisis, buy if below ₦4,700
· Onions (1 bag, 50kg): ₦92,000–₦100,000 – up slightly
· Garri (white, 2kg sack): ₦2,700–₦3,100 – stable
· Fresh pepper (paint rubber): ₦3,000–₦4,000 – down, use generously

Southeast (Enugu, Onitsha, Aba)

· Tomatoes (1 basket): ₦19,000–₦23,000 – Ogbete – down, BUY NOW
· Garri (white, 2kg sack): ₦2,700–₦3,100 – Ogbete – stable
· Abakaliki rice (50kg): ₦79,000–₦84,000 – Ogbete – flat
· Palm oil (1 litre): ₦4,500–₦5,000 – Ogbete – paused
· Goat meat (1kg): ₦6,200–₦6,700 – Relief Market – up
· Frozen chicken (1kg): ₦5,700–₦6,100 – Ogbete cold rooms – stable
· Sugar (1kg): ₦4,800–₦5,200 – Ogbete – crisis, stock up
· Onions (1 bag): ₦90,000–₦98,000 – up
· Bread (600g): ₦2,400–₦2,700 – stable
· Fresh pepper (paint rubber): ₦3,500–₦4,500 – down
· Plantain (bunch): ₦3,000–₦3,500 – down

North (Kano, Kaduna, Abuja)

· Tomatoes (1 basket): ₦15,000–₦19,000 – Kurmi – cheapest nationwide, BUY NOW
· Onions (1 big bag, 50kg): ₦82,000–₦90,000 – Kurmi – still reasonable
· Sweet potatoes (1 heap): ₦850–₦1,050 – Dei-Dei – still cheap
· Beans (oloyin, 1 mudu): ₦2,800–₦3,100 – Singa – flat
· Sugar (1kg): ₦4,300–₦4,700 – Kurmi – cheapest nationwide, BUY NOW
· Flour (50kg): ₦60,000–₦65,000 – Kurmi – stable
· Frozen chicken (1kg): ₦5,500–₦5,900 – Abuja cold rooms – stable
· Garri (2kg): ₦2,500–₦2,800 – Abuja – stable
· Fresh pepper (paint rubber): ₦2,800–₦3,600 – Kurmi – cheapest
· Cabbage (1 head): ₦700–₦1,000 – Dei-Dei – cheap

South-South (PH, Warri, Uyo)

· Tomatoes (1 basket): ₦18,000–₦22,000 – Uyo main – down, BUY NOW
· Palm oil (1 litre, native thick): ₦4,000–₦4,500 – Effurun – still cheapest, BUY NOW
· Fresh catfish (medium, 1kg): ₦5,000–₦5,500 – Mile 1 Diobu – stable
· Plantain (bunch, ripe): ₦3,000–₦3,500 – Iwofe road – down
· Smoked bonga fish (big piece): ₦800–₦950 – Uyo main – stable
· Local rice (50kg): ₦77,000–₦81,000 – Uyo – flat
· Frozen chicken (1kg): ₦5,600–₦6,000 – Warri cold rooms – stable
· Sugar (1kg): ₦4,500–₦4,900 – Uyo – stock up now
· Onions (1 bag): ₦85,000–₦93,000 – still okay
· Garri (2kg): ₦2,600–₦3,000 – Uyo – stable
· Fresh pepper (paint rubber): ₦3,200–₦4,200 – Uyo – down

Price trend analysis for Week 31 – what’s up, what’s down

· Tomatoes down another 20% – second week of relief. BUY NOW.
· Sugar up 15% – now ₦5,000 in Lagos. CRISIS.
· Palm oil flat – good news, buy now.
· Local rice flat – holding steady.
· Bread flat – pause after weeks of increases.
· Beans flat – supply improving.
· Garri stable – best value carb.
· Eggs (1 crate): ₦4,800–₦5,200 – stable.

Shopping tip of the week
With tomatoes dropping sharply, this is your moment. Buy 2–3 baskets at ₦15,000–₦19,000 in Kano or ₦18,000–₦22,000 in Lagos. Make large batches of stew and freeze in portions. One basket yields 8–10 stew portions for a family of 4. That’s 3–4 weeks of stew ready. When prices inevitably rise again in September, you’ll be insulated. Don’t over-buy fresh tomatoes without processing – they spoil fast. Process within 2 days of purchase.