Silence in the sacrifice market: costs rise, vendor stalls decline

Hours before Eid al-Adha begins, an unexpected silence is settling over the sacrifice markets. Rising costs have led to a marked decline in vendor stalls across many provinces compared to previous years; the sparseness of the market stands is a sign that the festive atmosphere has yet to reach the markets.

Retirees and minimum-wage citizens noted that sacrifice prices are far above their income levels and said they are unable to approach the market. For those living on fixed incomes, purchasing sacrificial animals this year has become largely out of reach. Vendors, meanwhile, emphasized that their profit margins have been eroded by the sharp rise in feed and transportation costs, while at the same time they are facing serious difficulty in finding buyers.

This cost pressure in the livestock sector is directly reflected in the overall picture of the sacrifice market ahead of the holiday. It is assessed that the increase in small and large livestock prices could negatively affect red meat prices in the coming period.