The Ministry of Economy of Greece reacted to reports of an upcoming 10-15 percent increase in the retail price of souvlaki, a popular Greek instant product.

It consists of small kebabs on wooden skewers, as well as grilled pork wrapped in pita bread, stating that at the moment the increase in pork prices has not exceeded 1–2 percent, but still the retail price may increase due to lack of meat in China.

Last week, market professionals said that the traditional offer of barbecue pork or doner kebab in pita bread would rise to 3 euros, but the Ministry of Economics said it was too early “to make any final conclusions about whether there is a growing trend internationally. Pork prices will affect consumer prices, but retail price statistics do not yet show a large degree of correlation. ”

According to a report by the Dutch international banking and finance company Rabobank International, this year pig fever in China could lead to a 30 percent decline in pork production in the most populous country in the world.

“Meat producers around the world sell more pork to China to cover losses from swine fever. Consequently, prices in the US and Europe are rising, and this trend is likely to continue, as the disease spreads rapidly throughout China, the largest producer and consumer of pork in the world, ”the Greek Ministry of Economy acknowledged.