August 4, 2004

Thailand Expects 70% Plunge In Poultry Exports

Thailand's poultry export is expected to plunge by 70% at the end of the year due to continuing bird flu outbreaks in the past seven months.

The country's poultry export has already plummeted by 62%.

Domestic prices of poultry meat and eggs were likely to jump in the near future, as farmers would have to invest heavily to upgrade their farms to prevent future outbreaks of bird flu.

Livestock Development Department chief Yukol Limlamthong said that as of yesterday, bird flu had been confirmed in 65 areas of 23 provinces. 11 areas in Ayutthaya, Pathum Thani, Sukhothai, Uttaradit, Nakhon Sawan, Ang Thong and Suphan Buri were free of the virus.