ANKARA, Feb. 9 (Xinhua) -- The Turkish Trade Ministry announced on Monday measures to halt poultry meat exports, aiming to support the supply-demand balance in the domestic market.

A chef prepares kebab dishes at a restaurant in Ankara, Türkiye, on Oct. 27, 2022. (Photo: Xinhua)

"As a step to support the supply-demand balance in the market, measures to suspend poultry meat exports have been implemented as of today," the ministry said in a statement.

Recent regional developments affecting global food markets, along with a rise in domestic demand and seasonal changes in consumption patterns, have led to faster price fluctuations in certain product groups, the ministry stated.

Against this backdrop, prices in the poultry meat market are being closely monitored to assess whether pricing behavior aligns with normal market conditions, the statement noted.

Any practices or speculative pricing behavior that could harm consumers or disrupt market functioning through excessive price increases are being closely tracked by the ministry, with inspections and sanctions carried out decisively when necessary, the statement added.

The decision came after some companies in the poultry meat sector raised their prices significantly. Ministry officials had earlier met with business representatives and requested that the price increases be reversed.