Egypt to overhaul slaughterhouses before transferring management to private firms
The government is refurbishing 150 public slaughterhouses in phases before handing them over to private operators. This is to improve hygiene, efficiency, and meat quality.
EGYPT – Egypt is revamping public slaughterhouses as part of a government initiative to improve operations before transferring them to private entities.
Prime Minister Mustafa Madbouli has reviewed a nationwide plan to upgrade 150 slaughterhouses in three stages, covering all governorates.
The first phase, which is currently in progress, involves renovating 41 facilities across 22 governorates, including a logistics slaughterhouse in Damietta.
Minister of Local Development Manal Awad stated that the government aims to ensure optimal use of the upgraded facilities to generate returns on investment.
She emphasized that private firms with relevant expertise are being encouraged to operate the slaughterhouses to improve efficiency and profitability.
Said Zaghloul, head of the Butchers’ Division at the Cairo Chamber of Commerce, highlighted the importance of deploying qualified veterinary services at every slaughterhouse to maintain meat quality.
He added that while the private sector is expected to enhance management efficiency, the transition must be handled carefully to serve public interests.
Zaghloul noted that several well-equipped public slaughterhouses remain idle due to a lack of trained personnel to operate modern equipment.
He expressed confidence that private investors would improve service quality, as they are motivated by profit.
However, he argued that the transition would not affect meat prices, which are primarily dictated by supply and demand.
In contrast, Haitham Abdel-Basset, vice president of the Butchers’ Division, believed that prices would increase once private firms take over.
He pointed out that the current cost of slaughtering a cow or buffalo is US$5.12 (LE250), while that of a sheep or goat is US$2.05 (LE100), and private investors might raise these fees, ultimately impacting meat prices.
Morocco’s Meat Supply Crisis
Meanwhile, Morocco has been grappling with a decline in livestock numbers, leading to a shortage of meat in recent months.
The livestock sector has been struggling for six years due to prolonged drought, which has increased animal feed costs and reduced the number of cattle and sheep.
Official reports indicate that Morocco’s livestock population has decreased by 38% since 2016, causing a significant drop in meat production and tightening supply.
To address the crisis, authorities have introduced measures to increase meat availability, including tax exemptions and incentives for imports.
In 2023, the government removed import duties and value-added tax (VAT) on sheep shipments from Europe to encourage supply.
Additionally, a subsidy of US$50 per imported sheep was introduced to support importers.
Morocco has also diversified its meat sources, importing 30,000 cattle from Brazil and Uruguay in early 2023.
Later in the year, the National Food Safety Office (ONSSA) approved the importation of sheep and goat meat from Argentina.
Since January 2025, Morocco has imported 124,000 sheep, 21,800 cattle, and 704 tons of red meat to ease the supply strain.
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