20% Increase in Meat Prices; Market Recession in the Final Days of the Year

The price of red meat has increased by 10,000 to 20,000 tomans in the past week, and according to market activists, this upward trend continues. Unlike previous years when there was significant demand for red meat ahead of Nowruz and Ramadan, this year the trend has reversed, and many people have lost their purchasing power due to rising prices. According to the website Khabar Online, Ali-Asghar Maleki, head of the Sheep Meat Union, noted the reasons for the price increase, stating, 'As we have seen in previous years, with the approach of Ramadan and Nowruz, the price of meat naturally increases.' He also emphasized that despite the rising prices, demand in the market has decreased, as people's purchasing power has declined, and many cannot afford to buy meat. Mansour Pourian, head of the National Livestock Supply Council, identified the increase in the semi-official exchange rate as one of the main reasons for the rise in imported meat prices. He also stressed the reduction in people's purchasing power, stating, 'It does not seem that this year the amount of red meat purchases will increase significantly, as prices have risen and people do not have the necessary financial capacity.' In the continuation of this report, the head of the Sheep Meat Union announced that the price of red meat has increased by about 20%, claiming that currently, each kilogram of meat is sold to consumers for about 670,000 tomans. Meanwhile, in online stores, prices are significantly higher than the rates announced by the Sheep Meat Union. Maleki responded to reports of red meat being sold for over one million tomans in these stores, explaining that this price might relate to processed cuts, but generally, the price of carcass and quarter meat remains around 670,000 tomans. The red meat market is experiencing a recession ahead of the new year, and the recent upward trend in prices has not only failed to stimulate the market but has severely reduced demand. A review of reports published in Iranian media indicates that in recent months, the food basket has experienced a new inflation rate of at least 30%, and recently, a permit for a 25% increase in intercity bus ticket prices has been issued. According to this data, one-third of food items last year saw price increases between 30% and 50%, and a quarter of them increased by more than 50%. Some independent experts believe that Iran's economic conditions, especially if sanctions continue, could worsen, leading to increased inflation and reduced access to essential goods. A member of the Livestock Science Research Institute stated that the price of meat has increased by 150% with the removal of the 4,200 toman exchange rate. The claims of 'self-sufficiency' by government officials are overshadowed by the empty tables of the people, with one-fourth of food items facing inflation rates of over 50%.