The debate on the increase in the price of meat grows

The increase in meat prices by about 50 percent since the beginning of the year provokes reactions from both the seller and the consumer.

There were different opinions about the reasons for the increase.

Veysel Günal, regional vice president of the Turkish Federation of Meat and Meat Products Butchers, Breeders, Traders and Craftsmen, said meat prices increased due to speculation.

Association of Red Meat Industrialists and Producers (ETBİR) Chairman of the Veterinary Board Dr. Ahmet Yücesan, on the other hand, said: “The increase in red meat on the market has nothing to do with the upcoming Ramadan, foot-and-mouth disease or the earthquake, as it has been on the agenda before. This is a phenomenon that follows its own economic course,” he said.

‘HIGHS HAS BEEN AUTOMATIC FOR 1.5 MONTHS’

Veysel Günal, regional vice president of the Turkish Federation of Butchers, Meat Breeders and Meat Products Traders and Craftsmen, said the price increases have been automatic for a month and a half.

“It has been speculated that there will be 130, 140, 150, do not cut off from social networks. With the intervention of the earthquake, the meat of the corpses was 180 lira,” said Günal, adding: “It’s like a gold stock market, they increase from 10 to 20 lira every week.”

Günal said: “In the past, this increase occurred during Ramadan and the Festivals of Sacrifice,” adding: “Approximately 8,000 animals died in the earthquake. With the arrival of Ramadan, opportunists played with meat all the time. “, said.

BIG MEAT INCREASED FROM 112 TL to 270 TL

Gunal continued:

“Thousands of lives were lost in the earthquake there. Some speculated on the merchandise. Thanks to our Minister of Agriculture, he is opening the importation of meat. I hope this extends to all provinces.

Foot-and-mouth disease emerged, but our Minister of Agriculture said it was under control and vaccines were produced. Our cuts continue in most of the provinces where there is no alum.

Ground beef was between 112 and 120 lire a month and a half or two months ago. Currently, the weight of ground meat is 270 lire and that of cubes is 275 lire. But the lamb also follows it, the dead lamb was 130 lire. Balıkesir lamb, which we call boneless, currently costs 170 lira. They are opportunists here.

Look, 3 or 4 months ago, the weight of carcass meat was 100 lire. He found 130 lire at the beginning of the year. But unfortunately, in a month and a half he found 180 liras. 180 lira today, we don’t know what will happen tomorrow and Monday.

We go to bed and wake up every day. So if it goes like this, it’s very difficult for the butchers. But we as a community of butchers hope that it will return to the 145-150 band. As a community of butchers, we demand this.”

ETHIR: NOT RELATED TO EARTHQUAKE DISEASE AND FOOT AND MOUTH DISEASE

Association of Red Meat Industrialists and Producers (ETBİR) Chairman of the Veterinary Board Dr. Ahmet Yücesan, on the other hand, stated that the increase in meat prices was natural and said: “Now, we can very easily say this about this issue. The increase in red meat on the market has nothing to do with the upcoming Ramadan, foot-and-mouth disease or, as discussed above, the earthquake. This is a phenomenon that follows its own economic course,” he said.

Yüvesan said: “There has been an abnormal increase of around 50 percent in the last 3 months, that is, since New Year’s Day.”

“I mean, it’s abnormal, actually, there was no problem that it had gradually reached this figure since last year. However, the 50 percent increase in the last 2-3 months has created a lot of unease in the market. Let’s say more or less, carcass meat is sold wholesale between 170-180 lire. The pieces of meat can be sold from 220 lira to 300 lira also in the retail sector.

PRODUCTION COSTS ARE EFFECTIVE

Of course, it must be evaluated as follows. It may be normal for carcass meat to be at this price as a cost index, but unfortunately it is a bit difficult to buy meat for 300 lira as a purchasing power. So it’s overrated. It can be said as foam or exorbitant price.

Since last week, fresh refrigerated carcasses from countries of the European Union began to arrive. In fact, it began to be distributed to butcher shops and markets instead of many businesses. Prices have slowed down a bit. In other words, prices have moved to a flat state.”

Stating that the price increase is related to the cost of production in the past, Yücesan said, “They are reflections related to inflation. The reason this didn’t open up directly to the market was an increase in demand and a decrease in production, as we just talked about, this price gradually started to rise. But since the last two weeks or 10 days, this upward trend has been parallel. It’s been going on for two weeks in the 170-180 band,” he said.

HERE IS THE LATEST PRICE STATEMENT

Onur Dinç, who runs a butcher shop in Ataşehir, said: “The main reason for the recent increase in meat prices is the earthquake. There is an increase in general prices due to earthquakes in 11 provinces, foot-and-mouth disease in recent weeks and before Ramadan. We are now in the neighborhood of Ataşehir Mustafa Kemal. Right now ground beef is lira 229, veal cubes lira 240, lamb chops lira 325, veal entrecotes lira 300. In other words, the price increase in this period is a normal thing, frankly,” he said.

Abdullah Arslan, citing meat prices at the Fatih butcher shop, said: “We have bone-in lamb right now, 170 lira. Cubed boneless lamb, 235 lire. Our beef brisket is 180 lire. Boneless cubed beef 250 lire. Lean ground beef is now 250 lire. Right now, it’s 290 lira for a T-bone steak. Chops 300 lire, lamb ribs 160 lire. “Prices are pretty high right now,” he said.

On the other hand, it is observed that there are differences in meat prices according to the districts of Istanbul. Minced meat sells for 229 lira in Ataşehir, 270 lira in Esenler and 250 lira in Fatih. (DHA)