April 20, 2011

Thai pork, egg prices hit new highs

Constant price hikes on eggs and meat have dampened Thailand's local markets, after a drop in productivity levels from the hot weather and a rising feed price.

In northeast Ubon Ratchathani, fresh markets and wholesale vendors have reported a fall in the supply of chicken eggs, prompting them to increase egg prices by THB10-15 (US$0.33-$0.50) per measured tray, with a tray of largest-sized eggs costing THB120 (US$4.02), up from an original from 115.

Vendors are saying that rapid weather changes have been causing chickens to lay fewer eggs, while poultry farms have also been under the grip of higher feed and transport costs. They predict that another price surge will come when the school break ends.

As a result, vendors at the local Warinchamraab Market have also revealed a drop in daily egg sales from 1,000 trays to 700 in two months.

In Nakhon Sawan, an increasing number of people have refrained from buying expensive eggs, now that one largest-sized egg is being sold at THB4 (US$0.13).

Meanwhile, butcher shops at Khon Kaen's Bang Lam Poo Market have raised pork prices to THB150 (US$5.02) a kilogramme from THB140 (US$4.68) earlier, they say, due to expensive feed costs and slower growth of livestock pigs from the hot weather.