Senior figures in Israel’s food industry are warning of a potential shortage of key food products ahead of Pesach, citing disruptions caused by the ongoing war with Iran.

Less than a month before the Yom Tov, industry officials say the markets for meat, poultry, and fish could face significant supply challenges. According to those familiar with the situation, disruptions in supply chains, delays in the import of raw materials, and slower activity at slaughterhouses and processing plants are creating a gap between rising consumer demand and available supply.

Demand for Yom Tov products has already begun climbing sharply at butcher shops and supermarket chains as families start preparing for Pesach. However, supply is struggling to keep pace. One retail industry source said that some chains are already seeing discrepancies between the quantities they ordered and the amounts suppliers are able to deliver.

The source warned that if demand continues to increase at the current pace, some consumers may find it difficult to obtain meat and poultry in the days leading up to the Yom Tov.

Pesach traditionally ranks among the busiest seasons for Israel’s meat and fish markets, as many households purchase large quantities of food in advance. This year, the usual seasonal demand is colliding with a range of wartime logistical challenges.

Among the issues affecting supply are reduced availability of workers in agriculture and slaughterhouses, delays at ports and along logistics chains, difficulties importing frozen fish and meat from Europe and South America, and rising transportation and maritime insurance costs.

Industry officials also cautioned that if consumers perceive shortages and rush to stock up in large quantities, the surge in demand could trigger additional price increases.

Market estimates suggest that prices for premium products—including select cuts of beef, salmon and other fillets, and high-quality poultry—could rise by dozens of percentage points.

Some industry insiders warn that consumers who wait until the week before Pesach to shop may encounter empty shelves or significantly higher prices. At the same time, several major importers and suppliers say they anticipated possible disruptions and increased their inventories in recent months in an effort to reduce the impact on consumers.

{Matzav.com}