November 3, 2004

Insufficient Duck Supply in Singapore, Prices Remain High
 

Singapore welcomed the first batch of live ducks on Monday after five ducks farms in Malaysian state Johor were approved by the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority (AVA).

However stocks are still not enough to solve the shortage in Singapore as prices remain more than 65 percent higher than pre-ban levels.

The five duck farms that received AVA's approval will now export 6,000 live ducks to Singapore daily.

As this is the first batch of ducks coming from Malaysia since the poultry ban was lifted, AVA officials were on hand to do the necessary inspections.

They took excrement, urine samples and some freshly slaughtered ducks back to their laboratories to ensure the birds are up to health standards.

Until Singapore's shortage of live ducks is solved, prices are likely to stay at $7.50 per kilogram, $3 more than pre-ban levels.