Imports of beef and other meat have increased dramatically since 2008, and will continue to increase in coming years. The primary reason, the Federation of Trade, argues is growing demand from foreign visitors. Beef imports increased from only 332 tons in 2008 to 1,037 tons in 2014, most of the increase coming between 2013 and 2014. Final figures for 2015 are not available, but importers’ sales to restaurants increased by at least 15% in 2015, the Icelandic National Broadcasting Service RÚV reports.
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Ólafur Stephensen, the director of the Federation of Trade told RÚV that demand for other meats, as well as fruits and vegetables had also increased significantly in recent years, largely due to growing demand from restaurants: “It is clear that domestic production cannot keep up with this growing demand, and we need to import probably around half of all beef and a lot of other poultry and pork as well.”
He complains that various import restrictions can create bottlenecks and temporary shortages, so that restaurants have not been able to offer all items on their menus. “Which is probably the most serious problem we are dealing with in this industry, when demand is growing this fast.”
Imports of beef and other meat have increased dramatically since 2008, and will continue to increase in coming years. The primary reason, the Federation of Trade, argues is growing demand from foreign visitors. Beef imports increased from only 332 tons in 2008 to 1,037 tons in 2014, most of the increase coming between 2013 and 2014. Final figures for 2015 are not available, but importers’ sales to restaurants increased by at least 15% in 2015, the Icelandic National Broadcasting Service RÚV reports.
Read more: Labour shortage looming in the tourism and construction industries in Iceland
Ólafur Stephensen, the director of the Federation of Trade told RÚV that demand for other meats, as well as fruits and vegetables had also increased significantly in recent years, largely due to growing demand from restaurants: “It is clear that domestic production cannot keep up with this growing demand, and we need to import probably around half of all beef and a lot of other poultry and pork as well.”
He complains that various import restrictions can create bottlenecks and temporary shortages, so that restaurants have not been able to offer all items on their menus. “Which is probably the most serious problem we are dealing with in this industry, when demand is growing this fast.”
