Cost of sacrificial sheep expected to rise sharply – High import costs

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KUWAIT CITY, Aug 26: Citizens and observers say as the Eid Al-Adha festival approaches, the cost of sacrificial ‘sheep’ is expected to rise sharply due to lack of buyers, supply and high import costs, reports Al-Shahed daily.

They say that due to the high import costs and the reluctance of importers, this year’s prices have increased by up to 30 percent. The cost of the Kuwaiti Al Naimi is stable at KD 120 dinars, the Shafali sells for 100 and prices are expected to rise between KD 10 and KD 20.

“The sheep market is moving these days because of the sacrifice,” said one Kuwaiti who did not give his name. “Only a week is left, so it is expected that the prices of the sacrificial animal will reach fictitious numbers. Now the price of Naimi is KD 120 dinars but before the Eid it is expected to reach KD 160 dinars and then the prices will fall after the end of the feast, he added.

“The market depends on supply and demand,” he said. He added, the supply at the moment is good enough, although some sheep companies are trying to manipulate the prices.

He blamed the Ministry of Commerce for ‘encouraging’ some livestock companies to manipulate the prices. “We have been accustomed for years and every holiday season the prices are being manipulated without any serious action by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry,” he said.

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