Meat Prices Crash – But Tomatoes Are About to Explode Again

CTN Market Watch: Week 25 – Where to shop smart this week

Column summary intro:
Welcome to CTN Market Watch – your weekly companion for finding quality goods at reasonable prices across Nigeria. Each week, we break down current market trends, highlight the best spots to buy staple foods, vegetables, protein, and household items, and help you avoid price gouging. Plus: global price moves that affect your wallet. Here’s what’s happening in Week 25.

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Because we don’t just give prices — we tell you where to go, when to buy, and what’s coming next week. No other platform breaks down local and global market shifts this clearly, this fast, and this free. Bookmark this column.

Global market brief – how the world affects your shopping this week

· Palm oil futures down another 3% – Indonesia exports remain high. Local palm oil may drop further.
· Wheat prices flat – Russian harvest forecasts improved. Flour could ease by Week 27.
· Rice prices down 2% – Vietnam and Thailand competing for market share. Imported rice may dip slightly.
· Sugar prices up 4% – Brazil fire damage confirmed worse than first thought. Local sugar heading higher.
· Crude oil at $82/barrel – diesel now ₦1,100–₦1,200 in many areas. Transport costs easing.

What this means for you:
Palm oil may drop again – hold off on bulk buying another week. Meat is still cheap post-Sallah – last chance to stock. Sugar is a growing problem – buy 1–2 months worth now. Diesel drop means some frozen and transported goods may get cheaper.

Week 25 market snapshot (June 15 – June 21)

· Meat prices still low – post-Sallah clearance continues. Last week of major discounts.
· Tomatoes at bottom price – Plateau harvest ending. Prices will rise sharply from Week 26.
· Palm oil down again – second week of declines. South-South now under ₦3,200/litre.
· Local rice demand very high – some sellers raising prices. Buy quickly.
· Beans up 5% – supply tightening from North-Central.

6 prices still dropping (last chance on some):

1. Ram/goat meat – down another 5% (final clearance)
2. Palm oil – down 5% second week
3. Frozen chicken – down 3% (diesel relief)
4. Sweet potatoes – down 5%
5. Cabbage – down 10% (Plateau peak)
6. Fresh pepper – down 5%

3 prices about to explode (buy now):

1. Tomatoes – harvest ending. Buy and stew/preserve this week.
2. Sugar – global shortage deepening. Stock up.
3. Local rice – demand surge. Don’t wait.

Best buys by region – what to pay (reasonable cost guide)

Southwest (Lagos, Ibadan, Abeokuta)

· Tomatoes (1 basket): ₦15,000–₦18,000 – Idi-Oro – lowest of the year. LAST CHANCE.
· Ofada rice (50kg): ₦63,000–₧67,000 – Mushin – up slightly, buy now
· Frozen chicken (1kg): ₦4,700–₦5,200 – Agege – still dropping
· Palm oil (1 litre): ₦3,400–₦3,800 – Mushin – second week down
· Bread (600g sliced): ₦1,550–₦1,800 – flat, slight hope
· Fresh ram meat (1kg): ₦3,200–₦4,000 – Agege abattoir – final week of low prices
· Sugar (1kg): ₦2,000–₦2,300 – Mushin – buy now
· Fresh pepper (paint rubber): ₦3,000–₦3,800 – Mile 12 – still cheap

Southeast (Enugu, Onitsha, Aba)

· Garri (white, 2kg sack): ₦2,100–₦2,500 – Ogbete – down from cassava harvest
· Abakaliki rice (50kg): ₦66,000–₧71,000 – Ogbete – up slightly, buy this week
· Palm oil (1 litre): ₦3,600–₦4,000 – Ogbete – down another 5%
· Goat meat (1kg): ₦4,200–₦4,700 – Relief Market – still cheap post-Sallah
· Frozen chicken (1kg): ₦4,800–₦5,200 – Ogbete cold rooms – stable low
· Sugar (1kg): ₦2,000–₦2,300 – Ogbete – buy now for storage
· Plantain (bunch): ₦2,700–₦3,200 – Ogbete – down again

North (Kano, Kaduna, Abuja)

· Onions (1 big bag, 50kg): ₦72,000–₦78,000 – Kurmi – lowest in 2025, buy for storage
· Sweet potatoes (1 heap): ₦650–₦850 – Dei-Dei – cheapest food nationwide
· Beans (oloyin, 1 mudu): ₦2,300–₦2,600 – Singa – up 5%, still reasonable
· Ram meat (1kg): ₦2,800–₦3,500 – Kurmi abattoir – cheapest meat in Nigeria
· Sugar (1kg): ₦2,100–₦2,400 – Kurmi – rising weekly
· Flour (50kg): ₦48,000–₦52,000 – Kurmi – slight drop, buy if you bake
· Tomatoes (1 basket): ₦14,000–₦17,000 – Kurmi – even cheaper than South, buy now

South-South (PH, Warri, Uyo)

· Palm oil (1 litre, native thick): ₦2,900–₦3,300 – Effurun – now under ₦3,000 in some spots
· Fresh catfish (medium, 1kg): ₦3,800–₦4,300 – Mile 1 Diobu – down with diesel
· Plantain (bunch, ripe): ₦2,600–₦3,000 – Iwofe road – lowest in months
· Smoked bonga fish (big piece): ₦550–₦700 – Uyo main – down slightly
· Local rice (50kg): ₦64,000–₧68,000 – Uyo – still cheapest in South
· Frozen chicken (1kg): ₦4,700–₦5,100 – Warri cold rooms – post-Sallah low
· Fresh ram meat (1kg): ₦3,200–₦4,000 – Mile 3 PH – final clearance week
· Tomatoes (1 basket): ₦16,000–₦19,000 – Uyo main – buy and preserve now

Price trend analysis for Week 25 – what’s up, what’s down

· Tomatoes at bottom – down 40% from peak. Will reverse sharply next week. PRESERVE NOW.
· Palm oil down another 5% – second week of declines. May drop once more.
· Ram/goat meat down 35% from Sallah peak – last week of bargain.
· Frozen chicken down 10% from three weeks ago – diesel relief.
· Local rice up 3% – demand surge. Buy this week.
· Sugar up 8% from last month – global shortage. Stock up.
· Eggs (1 crate): ₦3,800–₦4,200 – down from feed relief.
· Bread flat – still around ₦1,600–₦1,800.

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Shopping tip of the week
Preserve tomatoes now for the next 2 months. Buy 2–3 baskets at ₦15,000–₦18,000 each. Wash, blend with minimal water, boil down into concentrated stew base. Add pepper, onions, salt, and a little vegetable oil. Portion into freezer bags or containers. One basket yields 8–10 stew portions. When tomatoes hit ₦40,000 again in July/August, you’ll be cooking from your freezer at 60% less cost. Do this now – this window closes in 5–7 days.