Higher breeding costs push Thai egg prices up

 

 

Egg price rises are being blamed on the high cost of layer breeder chicks, and the Thai government is to allow limited imports of breeder hens.

 

Egg prices are up because the price of young chicks has almost doubled, said Deputy Prime Minister in charge of economic affairs Korbsak Sabhavasu, according to reports.

 

Sabhavasu said measures are being sought to help consumers, because of high cost of eggs, and he wants this problem solved within a week, adding that the price of young chicks had increased from THB17-18 (US$0.52-0.56) each to almost THB30 (US$0.93) in just six months. A hen was sold for meat after laying about 300 eggs.

 

The government had granted nine businesses permission to import breeding hens. Their chicks would be sold to farmers nationwide, he said

 

In addition, he noted that a committee chaired by Agriculture and Cooperatives Minister Theera Wongsamut will be set up to see whether there are regulations to deal with the nine business operators if the allocation is not appropriate and does not follow the free trade principle.