Slowness prevails in the meat market, especially lamb, despite the fact that Easter is fast approaching.
The orders of lambs from the consumers, who are “beaten” by the precision, to the butchers are noticeably reduced compared to other years, with the result that even the professionals themselves do not know what they should order in the run-up to Easter and in what quantities.
Trade union sources in the butchers sector, speaking to newsit.gr, expressed concern, along with dissatisfaction, about the attitude of the Ministry of Development and the announced ceiling on the price of lamb at 10 euros per kilo.
As they emphasize, this price is the product of an agreement between the ministry and the large supermarket chains and will result in the consumer receiving second-class meat.
And this is because, as they explain, when a breeder slaughters a flock of 1,000 lambs, even in Greek some will be first, some second and some third selection. The small merchant-butcher will generally choose to buy the best quality meats, which he will obviously buy more expensively. The supermarket which will buy in bulk, will buy, and sell to the consumer, meats of all qualities.
Thus, in previous Easter periods, the market could offer multiple choices to consumers, with all qualities of lambs and goats and for all sizes. This year, as the same sources point out, they are facing a direct price-fixing intervention that contradicts the free market and with lambs being sold with a “ceiling” of 10 euros, the product that will reach the Greek household will be of dubious quality.
As can be seen, the butchers will have to deal with a ceiling on the sale of meat, but without determining at what price they will buy from the breeders. In turn, livestock farmers cannot sell below levels that will cover their increased production costs.
What should be done, the same sources emphasize, is that there was help for the Greek breeder, so that he could sell at other prices. With the current situation, if the breeders can get the price they want and need, then the price that the final consumer will be able to buy will exceed 15 euros per kilo.
Where prices are currently moving
As the same sources explain to newsit.gr, much will depend on the meat markets in Northern Greece, which the butchers are waiting for to determine the prices in their stores.
Currently, a little more than a week before Easter, wholesale and retail amnoerifi prices are moderate in the Central Market of Athens, exceeding 10 euros in a few cases.
At wholesale level, domestic lambs are selling from €8.5 to €10.8 per kilo, with the prevailing price at €9.8 per kilo. Last year, the price range was from 7 to 9.5 euros.
In imported lambs from Romania, the price ranges from 9.5 to 10.5 euros per kilo with 9.7 euros per kilo prevailing. Last year the cost per kilo was between 8.5 and 9 euros per kilo.
As for the goat, it is sold wholesale for 8.5 to 10.8 euros per kilo with a prevailing price of 9.8 euros per kilo, with the price last year ranging between 8.8 and 9 euros per kilo.
The price the consumer pays is obviously higher.
Domestic whole milk lamb costs €12.98 per kilo, while domestic milk goat also costs €12.98 per kilo.
Consumers pay 13.98 euros per kilo for domestic lamb leg. Finally, local sheep is sold at 6.98 euros per kilo.
