Have the prices of meat and other products gone up? Ranchers and vendors contradict each other, but the MAGA confirms it

The previous week, a group of vendors from the capital’s central market denounced that they are paying more for beef, pork and chicken, so consumer prices can increase at any time.

Immediately, the Federation of Cattlemen of Guatemala rejected that the possible increase has to do with the price of live cattle, since, despite the increases in the cost of food, supplies and transportation, they have maintained the same figures since early this year.

Leonel Castañeda, president of the Federation, which groups 22 cattle associations from Petén, Izabal, Chiquimula, Jutiapa, Retalhuleu and Escuintla, among other departments, considered that the intentions of the vendors when announcing a supposed increase in the price of meat “is a insinuation that they are going to raise him.

“We are aware of the national economic situation, therefore, although the cost of freight to transport cattle has almost doubled or that veterinary products have become more expensive, we have not raised a penny to the price of live meat,” Castaneda said.

And he explained that, on average, the price of a pound of meat on foot of pasture cattle ranges between Q9 and Q9.25, while for stabled cattle (raised in corrals), it fluctuates between Q10 and Q10.50, due to because it is fed with concentrate. And according to the monitoring in butcher shops that they have carried out, the pound of meat to the public remains between Q35 and Q40.

The Association of Cattlemen of the South West of Guatemala (Agsogua) assures that the price of live steer meat, from the week of October 10 to 16, was quoted between Q9 and Q9.50 a pound; that of heifer, between Q8.90 and Q9.40; that of cow, between Q7.50 and Q8.25. For the week of November 14 to 20, the prices were Q9.30 and Q9.50; of Q9.20 and Q9.30; and between Q8 and 8.25, respectively.

Carlos Hernández, representative of the meat suppliers of the capital’s central market, denied that they have raised Q5 to the product, as the Terminal vendors have said, since although they have had increases in their costs, they have absorbed them. And he indicates that the problem with the rumors of increases is that it opens the door for vendors to raise meat products for sale to the public.

But according to the price monitoring of the Market Information System of the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Food (MAGA), on average, the price per pound of premium quality carcass beef paid to wholesalers varied from January to October Q2 .03, when going from Q18 to Q20.03.

In the markets

In view of the above, Prensa Libre visited some markets in the capital to obtain the perception of both buyers and sellers regarding current prices.

In the central market, for example, a pound of ground beef is available at Q29, as in the Bethania market, and the San José Mercantil, both in zone 7.

The pound of meat to roast is at Q32 in the first two and at Q33 in the last one. Chicken is quoted at Q14 in the Historic Center market, in Betania the price is Q18 and in San José, Q16. The pig is bought for Q24 in zone 1 and in the two supply centers of zone 7, for Q22.

Buyers agree that prices have risen on average Q2 in the last two weeks and about Q5 compared to September.

“You no longer know what to do, because you have to feed your family with the same amount of money and you barely buy half as much as before,” says Ana Lemus, who cooks daily for four family members.

María Barrios says that, to compensate for the high prices, she now asks for the meat slices to be small, so that, even if it’s not enough, everyone in her family can try even one bite.

Alejandro Hernández, a butcher from the central market, confirmed that buyers’ consumption has decreased significantly and that, due to the higher price of the product, people ask for meat in relation to their currency.

“Now there is the phenomenon that people do not buy by the pound. Customers come and ask for, for example, Q25 of meat, which is what they get, which is equivalent to about 12 ounces, that is, they have to sacrifice the number of portions,” says the merchant.

And the meat supplier, Luis González, indicated that there is a shortage of cattle and that is why prices have skyrocketed and that, in part, the measure is due to the fact that many of the ranchers in Zacapa, Jutiapa and Petén stopped trading and have moved to another turn of business because it was no longer profitable, since now the price of live cattle is Q11.50 and recently it was Q9.

Also groceries

Those who also echo the rise in product prices are the shopkeepers, while people complain that many prices rise day by day, “but everything is more expensive and it’s not your fault,” says a market vendor. the Bethany.

He gives as an example the price of beans, whose 4-pound precooked presentation cost Q17 three weeks ago and is now worth Q20; In the same way, it indicates that a pound of beans in bulk is now at Q7, and its price was Q5. The egg carton that was previously sold for Q37 now cost Q40.

Tommy Morales has been selling spare parts on a corner of the San José Mercantil market for several years. His business is very popular among those who visit that place, but he has recently raised the prices of his products due to the higher cost of the raw materials he uses.

It is no longer possible with these prices – he complains – sugar, dairy products, corn, fruit and not to mention meat have risen. All inputs went through the roof, he says.

“A clear example is the strawberry, before the box cost Q150 now it has shot up to Q600, the same happened with the tomato and onion; they are at unsustainable prices,” she says.

The interviewees agreed that salaries are not enough and that the government must take action on the matter and help Guatemalans to alleviate the crisis that affects everyone equally.

According to the National Institute of Statistics, in the month of October year-on-year inflation reached 9.7%.

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