Since the beginning of the conflict in Ukraine, food prices have risen steadily, and this week was no exception. The DECO Protest analysis of the staple food basket recorded a slight increase of 0.2% (plus 40 cents) over the last week and is now worth a total of 210.83 euros.
“The growth is felt in all food categories, and, above all, the prices of meat and fish have risen the most,” the consumer association noted.
According to the organization, “From February 23 to October 5, the number of fish has already increased by 18.99% (another 11.45 euros). Calculating that for just one kilogram of salmon, hake, horse mackerel, black sheath, sea bass, sea bream, perch and cod, the consumer may have to spend an average of 71.76 euros. Meat, in turn, has risen in price by 17.6% (plus 5.67 euros). A kilogram of pork loin, chicken, pork chops, pork chops, turkey steaks, veal for cooking and turkey leg can now be bought for an average of 37.92 euros.”
The Consumer Protection Association monitors weekly prices for a basket of 63 staples, which includes items such as turkey, chicken, hake, horse mackerel, onions, potatoes, carrots, bananas, apples, oranges, rice, spaghetti, sugar. , ham, milk, cheese and butter.
Between September 28 and October 5, the ten products with the highest price increases were tomato pulp (up 9%), squash (up 8%), spaghetti (up 7%), onions (up 7%), black sheath (up 6%). %), curly lettuce (up to 6%), ground roasted coffee (up to 4%), cod (up to 4%), tuna in vegetable oil (plus 4%) and whole grains (plus 3%).
Since DECO started its analysis on February 23, the day before Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the price of the same basket has already risen by 14.82%, costing €27.2 more this week than it was worth at the end of February.
“Fish (18.99% more) and meat (17.6% more) stand out in the period analyzed by DECO Proteste, but fruits and vegetables (15.56% more), dairy products (11.09% more) , grocery stores (up 10.43%) and frozen products (up 5.33%) also rose.
“The top 10 items that rose the most between Feb. 23 and Oct. 5 were fresh hake (up 64%), broccoli (up 48%), cabbage (up 42%), whole grain chicken (up 64%). 32%), turkey. steak (30% more), tomato pulp (28% more), maria cookies (27% more), baking flour (24% more), sea bream (22% more) and whole grains (21% more) % more).
The association explains that this increase is due to the fact that Portugal is “heavily dependent on external markets to guarantee the supply of cereals needed for domestic consumption”, which “currently represent only 3.5% of national agricultural production: mainly corn (56 %). , wheat (19%) and rice (16%).
“And if in the early 1990s self-sufficiency in grain was about 50%, now the value does not exceed 19.4%, which is one of the lowest rates in the world and forces the country to import about 80% of grain. ” adds Deku.
The organization elaborates that “the Russian invasion of Ukraine, where most of the grains consumed in the European Union, and therefore in Portugal, comes from, has put even more pressure on the sector, which has been struggling with the effects of the pandemic and drought for months. with a strong influence on production and stockpiling.”
“Limiting the supply of raw materials and increasing the cost of production, namely the energy needed for agri-food production, can thus be reflected in higher prices in international markets and, consequently, in prices at the consumer,” he emphasizes.