صحافة بلادي صحيفة إلكترونية مغاربية متجددة على مدار الساعة تعنى بشؤون المغرب الجزائر ليبيا موريتانيا تونس
Tunisia – February 19, 2026
The prices of red meat in Tunisia are witnessing a continuous rise, as the price of a kilogram of lamb in some areas reached about 65 dinars, compared to 47 dinars for beef, which led to a decline in its consumption among a wide segment of families, especially those with limited income, in light of the erosion of purchasing power and the high cost of living.
Prices have increased five times since 2010
Available data indicate that the price of lamb has increased nearly five times compared to January 2010, when it was around 12.5 dinars per kilogram, while the price of beef exceeded three times its level at the time (11.9 dinars).
The price of one kilogram of lamb is currently equivalent to about 11% of the guaranteed minimum monthly wage in Tunisia (528 dinars for a 48-hour system), which reflects the gap between income and prices.
Red meat prices in Tunisia are ranked among the highest in the Arab world, and sometimes even exceed levels recorded in some European countries, despite the large difference in purchasing power.
Structural causes beyond drought
Although previous waves of high prices were attributed to the lack of pastures and the rise in feed prices as a result of drought, the pace of increase continued even with the improvement of precipitation during the past and current seasons, which indicates deeper factors related to the production and supply chain.
In this context, Ahmed Al-Amiri, head of the Butchers Chamber affiliated with the Tunisian Union of Industry, Trade and Handicrafts, attributed the rise in prices to the decline in local production of sheep and cows. The head of the Farmers’ Syndicate, Al-Maidani Al-Dawi, also pointed out a shortage in the number of ewes and the impact of the smuggling phenomenon, which exacerbated the supply crisis in the markets.
Professionals described the current prices as “fantastic,” calling for allowing the supply of chilled meat to reduce pressure on the market, especially with the approaching month of Ramadan, when prices are expected to reach around 70 dinars per kilogram.
Attempts to contain the rise
For its part, the meat company announced the provision of quantities of lamb and cow meat at a price of 42.9 dinars per kilogram, in an attempt to reduce the severity of high prices. However, this price is still high for large segments of Tunisians, which revives the discussion about the necessity of adopting structural solutions to address the imbalances known in the meat and dairy sector, and to ensure a better balance between supply and demand in a way that protects the consumer and the producer alike.
Source:“My press”
