May 27, 2026
 

Turkish livestock prices double ahead of Eid al-Adha as regional conflict drives up feed and fuel costs

With red meat production already down 10.5% in 2025 and annual inflation running at 32%, Türkiye's sacrificial animal market is under severe strain as the holiday approaches.

Livestock prices in Türkiye have roughly doubled ahead of Eid al-Adha, celebrated this year from 27 to 30 May, with traders attributing the surge to rising fuel and feed costs linked to the regional conflict involving the United States, Israel and Iran, compounding an already difficult inflation environment for consumers and producers alike.

Livestock trader Abdurrahman Kose told Xinhua that a sheep which sold for TRY17,000 (US$372) last year now fetches TRY35,000 (US$766), citing surging transportation expenses and fertiliser costs that have nearly tripled amid regional turmoil. Trader Ali Ustuner said the link between diesel, which is imported and dollar-denominated, and production costs had transmitted directly into animal prices. "Feed prices have increased enormously due to geopolitical tensions," he said.

One market customer estimated prices had risen 70 to 80% compared with a year earlier, well above official wage and pension adjustments. Annual inflation in Türkiye currently stands at approximately 32%, having sharply eroded household purchasing power over recent years.

The price shock arrives against a backdrop of weakening supply. Turkish Statistical Institute data show red meat production fell 10.5% year on year to approximately 1.9 million tonnes in 2025. Industry representatives said a foot-and-mouth disease outbreak last year added further pressure on producers, while softer household finances and shifting consumption patterns have slowed red meat demand.

Cattle seller Okan Dalbudak said feed and diesel disruptions had caused animal costs to rise threefold or fourfold. "We are facing serious difficulties," he said. Fazli Yalcindag, head of Ankara's Chamber of Butchers, said many families were responding by opting for shared sacrifices or smaller animals. "This year, almost every customer is calculating expenses very carefully," he said.

— Xinhua