Before the New Year, the meat market in Northern Cyprus “failed to gain momentum”: butchers report a drop in demand

Despite the traditional pre-New Year rush, meat sales in the TRNC this season turned out to be noticeably weaker than expected. Industry representatives attribute this to several factors at once — rising prices, an overall decline in purchasing power, and a worrying background surrounding foot-and-mouth disease.

The head of the Butchers’ Union, Rashit Shenkaya, notes that the usual surge in orders from restaurants and corporate events almost did not occur: according to his estimates, such sales fell by about 50% compared to previous years. He also drew attention to the sharp rise in beef prices: since June, the price has increased by about 70%, according to him.

The director of Paşaoğluları Kasap, Boysall Pashaogulları, for his part, says that concerns about foot-and-mouth disease did affect consumer behavior: people began to buy meat less often, and part of the planned volumes in the week before the holiday was not sold. Among systemic problems, he mentions smuggling and believes that solutions such as importing carcasses (karkas et) and creating a regulating “Meat and Fish Authority” could help the market.