site.btaLamb Meat Costs EUR 11/Kg, Ten Eggs - EUR 1.5 in North Macedonia Before Easter

Ten days before Easter, the price of lamb meat, traditional for the festive meal in Northern Macedonia, ranges between MKD 650-670 denars (EUR 10.5-11) in large retail chains, BTA's photo correspondent in Skopje reported on Wednesday.

It can be found slightly cheaper in local butcher shops - around MKD 585 (EUR 9.5).

Traditionally, North Macedonia exports its lamb meat mainly to Italy and a smaller part to Croatia, but there will be enough left for the local market, media in Skopje say.

However, the retail price of a kilo of lamb in North Macedonia reaches the export price to Italy – EUR 11.

Livestock farmers complain that the prices they receive from buyers do not even cover their basic costs, currently around MKD 210 (EUR 3.4) per kilo live weight.

Eggs, another Easter staple, are sold in North Macedonia for between MKD 74-92 (EUR1.12-1.5) for ten and between MKD 178-215 (EUR 2.90-3.5) for 30, depending on size and type.

Depending on the size, Easter bread costs between MKD 62 and 123 (EUR 1-2).

At the same time, government measures are in force to limit the profit margin on 100 groups of products - food and non-food - that were expected to make citizens shop cheaper for the Ramadan Bayram and Easter holidays, local Channel 5 television reported.