May 30, 2013

Thailand's egg prices rise on various factors

Factors like hot weather, rising demand and exports are causing Thailand's chicken egg prices to rise again in several parts of the country.

In Buri Ram province, chicken egg prices have risen three times this month alone. The latest increase occurred Monday (May 27), with the price going up by THB0.10 (US$0.003) per egg. The largest eggs cost THB4.50 (US$0.15) per piece. Vendors at the Buri Ram municipal market say their sales are dropping because people are buying fewer eggs at the higher prices.

Local vendors said chicken farmers claimed they had to raise egg prices because the hot weather had caused their birds to lay fewer eggs. In Phitsanulok province, the retail price rose by THB0.90 (US$0.03) per egg on Monday.

Another vendor said the number of chickens laying eggs was dropping, while demand for eggs has risen at the beginning of the new school term. The local price of chicken eggs rose from THB3.50-3.80 (US$0.12-0.13) to THB4.20-4.50 (US$0.14-0.15) per egg, depending on their size. Food vendors have raised the price of fried eggs from THB5-7 (US$0.17-0.23) each to THB10 (US$0.33).

In Ang Thong province, prices are on the rise for both chicken and duck eggs. A large chicken egg was priced at THB4.50 (US$0.15) on Monday, and the price is to increase by a further THB0.10 (US$0.003) on Tuesday (May 28). Chicken farmers there also claimed the hot weather was affecting egg supplies.

Many local food vendors have taken dishes containing eggs off the menu, while consumers are asking authorities to control egg prices and verify the farmers' claims. In Phichit province, chicken egg prices rose from THB2.50-4 (US$0.08-0.13) to THB3.50-4.20 (US$0.12-0.14) per piece, but large eggs were not available. Local vendors said some consumers had stopped buying eggs.

Tewin Wannaying, a chicken egg wholesaler in Nakhon Ratchasima province, said the price of chicken eggs rose by 10-20% a year because of demand for egg exports limiting local supplies, old egg-layers being removed, and rising demand at the beginning of the new school term. He said he does not think the weather is a factor because chicken farms are temperature-controlled. He urged authorities to control chicken egg prices at farms.

Chicken egg prices have also increased in Bangkok and surrounding areas. Average prices range from THB3.50 (US$0.12) to THB4.20 (US$0.14) per piece at the Ying Charoen market and from THB3.30 (US$0.11) to THB4.20 (US$0.14) at the Talad Thai market.