September 9, 2014

The price of chicken egg in the Philippines has surged on high demand versus faltering supply.

The Philippines' Bureau of Agricultural Statistics (BAS) says an average-sized egg is now being sold in Metro Manila at PHP6 (US$0.14) from only PHP5 (US$0.11) in August - a 20% jump.

In some areas outside Metro Manila, the bureau adds, egg even sells for up to PHP7 (US$0.16) a piece.

Tux Siddayao, president of the Philippine Association of Breeder Layers Inc. (PABLI), attributed the current price surge on high demand.

"The domestic demand for eggs is huge, considering that many Filipinos consume considerable amount of bread and pastry on a daily basis, and almost all bread and similar products contain eggs as ingredient," he said.

The rising demand comes at a time when output is down due to changing weather. In the first half of 2014, egg production in the country fell 4.18% on extremely hot weather conditions followed by typhoons, according to BAS.

Some producers, however, believe the current price up-tick is temporary with supply expected to stabilise in a few months.

Edwin Chen, treasurer of the PABLI, said a good number of poultry breeders and raisers have also gone into egg production to maximize the capacity of their production area and to take advantage of the high chicken prices now prevailing in the market.

The association has been at the forefront of a campaign to sustain high demand across the country to maintain stable prices for eggs.

Last year, PABLI launched a nationwide campaign to encourage higher egg consumption among consumers after egg prices went down due to slow demand.

Chen said producers and the government should work together "to promote egg as an industry by itself"as it has all the potentials.