Aiming for prices to be lower than last year, when, according to market players, the price of arrowroot ranged from 11 to 14.5 euros per kilo, the Ministry of Development is trying to reach the Holy Week.
“We have asked the market operators that the prices of lambs this year will be the same or lower than the prices of last Easter and the commitment we have is that in the “Household Basket”, the prices of both lamb and goat will be lower or at least the same as last year” the Minister of Development, Kostas Skrekas, said last week on Parapolitik 90.1 radio. In fact, he stated that “our goal is for the price of lamb to be lower than 10 euros per kilo”.
The target is considered ambitious by the market. Everyone sees the price of lamb moving to 12 to 16 euros. The low price will be reached in the supermarkets and possibly in the Varvakeio market, while the higher prices in the neighborhood butchers.
According to Lefteris Gitsa, president of the National Interprofessional Meat Organization (EDOK), who spoke to “Sunday Afternoon”, the price of 10 euros is unattainable, as in this period lamb and goat producers sell 8.0 to 8.5 euros per kilo. The price includes slaughterhouse costs, VAT and any other kind of expenditure before it reaches the shelf. If transport costs are added, then it is considered impossible for the price on the shelf to fall below 12 euros.
For his part, the president of the Institute of Consumers (INKA), Giorgos Lehouritis, speaking on Parapolitika 90.1, the president of the Institute of Consumers (INKA), Giorgos Lehouritis, speaking on Parapolitika 90.1, referred to the prices of commenting on the Minister of Development’s statements, he emphasized: “In Greece, more than 200,000 lambs have been imported, which will enter the market”.
At the same time, Giorgos Lehouritis stated that the prices of lambs in supermarkets will be up to 11 euros per kilo and in Varvakeio from 14 to 15 euros per kilo, if the lamb is whole.
e-katanalotis
However, he did not rule out the possibility of individual cases of lambs being sold for less than 12 euros. However, this will happen mainly for marketing reasons and for a limited number of amnoerifis. Already on the e-katanalotis platform, ovelia prices last week ranged from 11.5 to over 12.0 euros per kilo for whole lambs. And for goats, the prices start from 12 euros per kilo.
It is noted that only large supermarkets that offer the lowest prices enter e-katanalotis. Based on these sale prices, consumers should prepare to pay 5% to 10% more this year than last year for arrowroot. Of course, the timing of the purchase of amnoerifis also plays a role. Probably, in the last days of Holy Week the prices will drop.
The people of the market, moreover, characterize as baseless the information referring to a lack of amnoerifia in view of the Greek Easter, given that it preceded the Catholic Easter. However, as Mr. Gitsas mentions, the Catholic Easter always precedes the Orthodox one and that the other markets (Italy, Spain, etc.) cover their needs with different amnoerifi products than Greece.
Catholics usually consume much smaller lambs, up to 7 kg, while Greeks consume considerably larger ones. Any shortages, like every other previous year, will be covered by imports of amnoerifi from other markets, e.g. Romania, Bulgaria, Turkey, etc. It is recalled that in the country the production of meat does not exceed 35% of the annual consumption.
