We can see a strong price increase at the meat counters in the near future

For the time being, it is not possible to predict to what extent meat prices will continue to rise. (Photo: Pixabay)

The coronavirus epidemic has already exploded into a state of equilibrium, and although during the epidemic Hungarians’ pork consumption did not change significantly in terms of quantity, a significant transformation was observed in the structure. But what has happened to pork consumption after the pandemic, and especially in recent months? What processes are behind the increase in the price of pork, and how long can prices rise? What can be expected in the next period? The Agricultural Sector asked Tamás Éder, the president of the Meat Association, about this.

According to the president of the Meat Association, the meat consumption of Hungarians changed even during the coronavirus epidemic, but this was basically and primarily due to the fact that the locations of meals in the lives of a part of the population changed. The periodical, complete reduction of public catering, companies’ own canteens, and eating in restaurants resulted in a substantial decrease in demand for certain meat parts, but this was practically compensated by the demand for other meat parts – explained Tamás Éder. In other words, with regard to pork, there was no significant change in the meat consumption itself, but there was a change in the internal structure. “To put it in the most figurative way, we consume a significantly larger amount of pig’s rind in restaurants than at home. This is a valuable part of the animal, isn’t it, the demand for it decreased drastically during the pandemic, and at the same time the demand for cheaper meat increased.” – Tamás Éder illustrated the phenomenon with an example.

The specialist also talked about how the other significant structural change came from the place of consumption, as people ate less in restaurants and public catering.

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