While fresh chicken continues to be short in supply in the local market, prices of all varieties of chicken are expected to go up very soon, say traders.
“With the limited stocks we received yesterday we couldn’t meet even one third of the demand for fresh chicken,” said a source from a leading hypermarket last evening.
The shortage is attributed to a recent ban imposed by the Saudi authorities on export of chicken and poultry products. Prices of fresh chicken is expected to shoot up if the ban is not lifted, after the Haj season. Many customers yesterday were surprised to see the racks keeping fresh chicken in most shopping malls empty, for a second day in a row. They said the shopkeepers could not cite any reason for the sudden disappearance of the item.
Sources said the prices of frozen chicken remains stable until now but an increase is expected very soon, with the prices going up in the international market.
“Prices have not up gone up here until now, but there are not many promotional offers,” said a shopkeeper.
For instance, Sadiya the most popular frozen chicken imported from Brazil used to offer attractive promotion packages through out the year. However, currently a single package is available and that too in limited stocks.
Meanwhile, prices of fish in the local market are expected to fall during Eid holidays, with a fall in demand due to the abundance of sacrificial meat in many Qatari and expatriate homes.
Animal sacrifice is an import ritual of Eid Adha and meat of the slaughtered animals is distributed among neighbours, relatives and people in need.
The Peninsula
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