Sharp Rise Expected In Israeli Meat Prices

Retailers estimate prices to rise by up to 20% due to global shortage, Argentina government's decision to halt exports of meat.

Sharp rise expected in meat prices
Retailers estimate prices to rise by up to 20% due to global shortage, Argentina government's decision to halt exports of meat
Yehudit Yahav • Ynet

The prices of frozen and fresh meat in Israel will see a sharp rise soon, following the Argentinean government's decision to stop exporting meat and the shortage expected worldwide.

According to one of the leading meat suppliers in Israel, Argentina has halted its exports completely in the past two weeks, and containers of frozen meat have been taken off ships and planes in order to divert the meat to the local market and prompt a price reduction.

Argentina itself is experiencing a shortage of high quality meat, which has led to a price hike. The government is trying to cut the exports and keep the meat in the country in order to reduce prices.

Suppliers also report that the price of imported beef has increased in the past few months from about $4,000 per ton to about $5,000 a ton, and thus, there was no other way but to raise retail prices by some 30%.

Argentina is considered the world's leading meat supplier, but in light of its recent actions importers are being forces to find alternative sources, including Brazil and Uruguay.

The entire world is experiencing a shortage of meat, however, and the prices of processed meat products – including hamburgers and kebab – are also expected to rise.

Officials in the retail industry confirmed Sunday that the supermarket chains were in negotiations with local meat suppliers. "All the suppliers want to raise the prices by at least 30%, but the chains will try to convince them to settle for the lowest increase possible," one of the officials said.

The retailers estimate that the prices will eventually rise by 15-20% in supermarkets and restaurants.

The prices of meat in Israel are relatively high as it is: Frozen faux filet costs NIS 35-45 ($9-12) per kilogram, rib eye steak costs about NIS 60 ($16), and fresh meat costs about NIS 100 ($27).

Comments

[harold]

Any idea what effect it will have on the US kosher market?

[shlepper]

Hmmm ...

Interesting ...

Except that Argentina does NOT supply most of the Kosher meat to Israel. It comes mostly from Uruguay and Poland. The Fresh meat comes mostly from Australia.

15 Years ago Argentina supplied about 90% of the market. It would now be less than 10%.

Also, most of the Kosher meat is especially produced and would have not place in the local meat market unless the wholesale price would be halved and sold as non kosher meat to the local market.