June 9, 2008

Delhi sees increase in egg prices, cheaper chickens
 
 

Egg prices have increased while chicken prices declined in the Indian capital over the past two weeks due to supply differences.

For eggs, there is a situation of demand exceeding supply, leading egg prices to reach Rs180 per 100 hundreds. The prices were in between Rs150-160 per 100 eggs a fortnight ago.

Egg prices in the retail market also rose to Rs30 per dozen from Rs24.

Price increases are due to poultry farmers producing less during summer and that the egg prices are likely to remain at its current level, according to Pramod Nagpal, vice chairman of the National Egg Coordination Committee (NECC Northern Region).

On the other hand, chicken prices have declined by Rs15 per broiler in the wholesale market for the past fortnight and a chicken now costs in between Rs50-54.

Broilers are currently sold for Rs100-120 per kg and the drop in prices is due to oversupply, according to a wholesale trader at Delhi's Gazipur mandi.

While Nagpal denied that a hike in diesel prices is affecting the retail prices of eggs, the wholesale trader said diesel prices would definitely affect the retail rates of chicken.