Chicken prices have fallen sharply across markets in the Kurdistan Region compared with last week, as higher temperatures, delayed salaries and increased farm output reduced demand and boosted supply.
Abdulqahar Ali, head of the Erbil Chicken Sellers Council, said one kilogram of chicken now sells for between 2,500 and 2,650 Iraqi dinars.
Last week, prices had climbed to around 3,500 dinars per kilogram.
Ali said several factors contributed to the decline. Hot weather has reduced consumer demand, while delayed salary payments have also weakened household spending.
At the same time, more poultry farms have brought mature chickens to market, increasing supply and putting additional pressure on prices.
Hemin Sayid Murad, director general of agriculture in Erbil, said high temperatures have also changed trade patterns.
He explained that demand for chicken usually falls during very hot weather. Traders are also sending fewer birds to central and southern Iraqi provinces because they fear poultry may die during transport in extreme heat.
As a result, more locally produced chicken remains inside the Kurdistan Region, adding to market supply.
Murad stressed that the price decline is not linked to any disease outbreak among poultry farms.
He said authorities have not recorded any illness or health problem affecting chicken production.
Officials therefore attribute the current decline mainly to seasonal weather, weaker demand and higher availability.
The sharp fall offers some relief to consumers after prices rose significantly last week.
However, poultry farmers may face lower profit margins if prices remain weak while production costs stay high.
Market prices could change again if temperatures fall, salaries are paid or traders resume larger shipments to other Iraqi provinces.
For now, abundant supply and softer demand continue to keep chicken prices lower across the Kurdistan Region.
Officials say they will continue monitoring poultry supplies, demand and farm conditions.
