September 8, 2004

 

 

Egg Prices Surge In Singapore

 

Singaporeans are now paying as much as 60 cents for a single egg in some markets around the island.

 

The situation applies to both eggs imported from Australia as well as local eggs.

 

But with local farms saying eggs are still being sold to stall holders for 20 to 30 cents an egg, consumers are crying foul.

 

Egg stalls in many local markets have been empty for days, and egg sellers are worried.

 

Those stalls that do have eggs, however, have started charging shoppers a lot more.

 

Local egg farms say they are charging egg sellers about 30 cents an egg. But one stall in Tekka market, for example, is charging 55 cents for each local egg -- even more than eggs imported from Australia.

 

But there are those who are willing to pay more for eggs.

 

For example, one Chinatown stall selling a tray of 10 Australian eggs for S$5.20 sold some 3,000 eggs in just two hours.

 

The eggs were part of a shipment of 375,000 eggs that arrived on Monday night; another batch is expected on Thursday.

But many egg sellers are reluctant to stock up on Australian eggs because the numbers just do not add up.

 

Although Singapore's ban on Malaysian eggs and poultry has been extended, egg sellers are hoping the plan to identify bird flu-free zones like Johor takes off, so imports can resume sooner.