Enab Baladi – Amir Huquq
Frozen meat has become noticeably widespread in Syrian markets, especially after the fall of the Assad regime and the adoption of a free market economy, which paved the way for the entry of foreign goods.
The prices of frozen meat compete with local fresh meat, which explains the interest of families in purchasing it.
In a survey conducted by Enab Baladi in the markets of Damascus, the price of a kilo of frozen red meat reached 60,000 Syrian pounds, while the price of a kilo of fresh red meat ranged between 100,000 and 150,000 pounds.
As for chicken, the price of a kilo of frozen chicken fillets is 24,000 pounds, while fresh fillets range from 42,000 to 48,000 pounds, and a kilo of frozen chicken thighs is priced at 22,000 pounds, whereas fresh ones range from 35,000 to 40,000 pounds.
The dollar is currently equated to about 10,000 Syrian pounds on average in the black market, amid fluctuations in exchange rates following the US President’s decision to lift sanctions on Syria.
Most of it is smuggled
Frozen meat imports are relied upon to supply the Syrian markets with the required quantities, taking advantage of their lower prices that fit individuals’ purchasing capabilities, effectively breaking the monopoly of some traders who manipulate meat prices of both types.
Abdul Razak Habza, Secretary of the Consumer Protection Association and an economic expert, stated to Enab Baladi that the import of frozen meat is a phenomenon that has emerged for over ten years in Syria, primarily due to a decrease in livestock numbers (sheep, cattle, chickens).
In the past, meat was imported through regular channels, but today, most of it is smuggled, whether chicken or red meat, and consumer demand for purchasing it is relatively good, given its prices which are about 50% lower than those of fresh meat, thus matching the purchasing capacity of families, aside from the issue of nutritional value, which consumers do not prioritize, according to Habza.
At the expense of local producers
Dr. Abdul Rahman Muhammad, Deputy Dean of the Faculty of Economics at Hama University and an economic expert, said to Enab Baladi that most frozen meat is currently imported from Turkey, including beef, chicken, and fish, and sold at lower prices than local fresh meat.
The importing entities include both the public and private sectors, where the state relies on imports to fill the gap in local demand, allowing the government to do so to lighten the burdens on citizens, but this might be at the expense of local producers, without a precise study of the issue and its repercussions.
According to Dr. Muhammad, the demand for frozen meat is attributed to several factors, the most significant being:
Its prices are much cheaper than local meat due to high local production costs (feed, medicines, fuel). Decrease in local production. Increased poverty; most Syrians cannot afford the high prices of fresh meat.The positives of importing frozen meat, according to Dr. Muhammad, are:
Providing cheap protein and suitable food for poor families at reasonable prices. Reducing pressure on local meat, as it diminishes monopolization and sometimes exorbitant prices. Market stability: it provides a less expensive alternative, especially during periods of reduced local supply.Livestock and poultry breeders have suffered during the previous regime from the high costs of feed, livestock management supplies, and veterinary medicines, which significantly contributed to the increase in meat prices.
Imbalance in the national economy
The impact of importing frozen meat is clearly visible on local meat, both in terms of competition and in the livestock breeding sector, which affects the movement of the national economy.
Abdul Razak Habza believes that the effect of importing frozen meat on local goods is evident through its replacement and the reduced demand for them.
He explained that the biggest impact is faced by breeders, as this competition leads them to withdraw from the production process, resulting in losses regarding livestock, such as the closure of farms and a shift away from raising sheep and cattle.
Some breeders may resort to “reverse smuggling,” that is, smuggling sheep, cattle, and chickens to neighboring countries, especially since Syrian meat is desirable.
In either case, the impact is negative on breeders and the national economy in general, according to Habza, who added that most frozen meats are smuggled, meaning they are not subject to customs and do not incur any customs duties, causing an imbalance in the national economy.
Moreover, these meats are not subjected to health and veterinary inspections, raising warnings regarding possible radioactive contamination, freezing period, or standard specifications such as flavor, color, and chemical composition, as they do not undergo analysis.
The previous regime’s government announced, in May 2024, that it had begun importing about four million heads of young calves and sheep for the first time in 12 years, confirming the decline in local production.
Threat to livestock wealth
According to Dr. Abdul Rahman Muhammad’s assessment, the impact of importing frozen meat on local meat manifests in:
Decreased demand for local meats due to price competition, leading producers to struggle to sell their products. Declining livestock prices: producers are forced to sell livestock at lower prices due to weak demand. Threat to livestock wealth: decreasing numbers of livestock due to unviability of breeding in the face of imported competition and high feed prices.He pointed out that the impact of its imports on breeders reflects in massive financial losses, as they cannot compete with the low prices of imports, leading to reduced investment in breeding.
In Dr. Muhammad’s opinion, the optimal solution lies in balancing import policy with support for breeders through:
Providing feed at reasonable prices. Improving livestock breeds. Protecting local products from unfair competition.Therefore, the future of frozen meat imports fundamentally depends on the existence of clear and comprehensive strategies from the government to ensure achieving the intended benefits from the livestock sector.
Syria: Meat imports satisfy consumers but pressure producers Enab Baladi.
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