Greece is the sixth most expensive EU country in terms of meat prices

According to the latest Eurostat data, beef prices rose by 4.5%, pork by 7.9% and lamb by 7.2%, placing Greece sixth in the ranking of European Union countries.

“We can’t buy meat like before,” consumers tell Alpha channel reporters and demand that the government take action. Meat prices are unaffordable for many households. “Prices for lamb and goat meat have increased. And on the eve of Easter they will rise further, reaching 14, and maybe 15 euros,” consumers fear.

In turn, butchers claim that this is due to the fact that “meat production costs have increased significantly.”

Some consumers have already begun purchasing groceries for Easter. And many say that on Easter Sunday they will fry chicken legs instead of the traditional lamb. Meanwhile, breeders are sounding the alarm about a shortage of lambs for Easter. Causes:

• large temperature fluctuations (high during the day and sharply low at night – young lambs failed to survive)
• many breeders stopped raising livestock (increasing costs and low income)
• lamb exports increased by more than 20% due to Catholic Easter on March 31 (in Italy, Spain, Germany and Portugal)
• livestock decline: More than 85,000 sheep and goats have died this year in Greece due to fires and floods.

Price from the breeder

1. For lamb – goat (kilogram)

2023

• Before the Easter Basket announcement: €7–7.50.
• After the announcement of the Easter basket: 6.50–7 euros.

2024

• 7.50 euros – 8 euros.

2. Prices for lamb and goat meat at butchers for Easter 2023

• lamb: 12–15 euro/kg.
• goat meat: 13–15.30 euros/kg.
• ribs: 15–17 euros/kg.

3. Prices for lamb and goat meat in the Easter Basket for Easter 2023

• lamb: from 9.69 euros to 10.90 euros/kg.
• goat meat: from 9.90 euros to 10.99 euros/kg.

The Easter Basket will be available again this year from Wednesday 24th April and will include:

• lamb
• goat meat
• buns – chureki
• chocolate gift eggs.

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