Cypriots traditionally choose lamb for their Easter tables, but this year many may turn to other meats, such as pork, due not only to shortages in lamb supply but also to concerns about quality. Head of the Cyprus Butchers’ Association, Kostas Leivadiotis, told Politis that “we traditionally slaughter around 35,000 Cypriot and Greek lambs and kids every Easter. However, because of the situation with foot‑and‑mouth disease, there is a tight supply. We do not expect that demand will be met.” He also noted problems affecting imports of Greek lamb due to outbreaks of sheep pox and foot‑and‑mouth disease. As a result, Leivadiotis said, many consumers are already rushing to buy meat out of fear they will not find any during Easter week.
Talks on imports
As for lamb prices, he said they hover around €15 per kilo, but many livestock traders abroad – aware of the difficult situation in Cyprus – are exploiting it and demanding more. According to information obtained by Politis, efforts are underway to meet demand for lamb and goat meat through imports from Bulgaria and Romania.
The general secretary of the Cyprus Retail Association, Marios Antoniou, confirmed that coordinated efforts are in progress to import lamb from markets beyond Greece, as Greece is facing numerous problems, including cases of foot‑and‑mouth disease. The island of Lesvos, he said, has been placed entirely under quarantine due to the outbreak.
At the same time, he stressed that shortages are not expected in the retail sector, noting that retail businesses currently hold stock for at least 30 days, with suppliers maintaining an additional 30 days’ worth. The main issues, according to Antoniou, concern beef and lamb.
Rising meat prices
Regarding meat prices overall, Aliki Iordanou, head of the Competition Branch at the Consumer Protection Service, told Politis that prices have risen over the past two years. Over the past year, she said, beef prices have increased by 25% due to limited supply in Europe, while lamb and goat meat prices have risen by 6.7%.
As for pork, she said prices have fluctuated, adding that increases are not justified given the oversupply in recent months, both in Cyprus and across Europe – especially after China imposed 20% tariffs on EU pork imports.
Iordanou added that the service is also monitoring the market impact of animal culls. “Since 25,000 sheep and goats – 5.5% of the total population – have been culled so far, half of which would have gone to slaughter for Easter, there is a risk of a shortage in lamb and kid supply, which must be addressed in time through imports,” she said.
According to data from the service, lamb prices in four major supermarkets on 17 March 2026 ranged from €13.25 to €15.75 per kilo, compared with €10.50 to €13.65 last Easter. Prices have not yet reached their peak, something expected to happen as demand increases in the days leading up to Easter.