Female drivers cause meat market upset

I sometimes find it hard to understand agricultural commodity markets, but this one from Bord Bia’s recent meat marketing seminar blew my mind.

Saudi Arabia’s decision to allow women to drive has caused a bit of a crash for exporters of buffalo meat and chicken to the Gulf kingdom, according to Rupert Claxton of the agri-market research firm Gira. The reason? As women get behind the wheel, they fire their hired drivers, leading to an exodus of low-paid migrant workers from countries such as Pakistan.

Those workers were the ones buying cheap meats such as Indian buffalo and imported chicken. I’m told prime Irish beef exports are safe.