November 3, 2014

Egg prices rising in Pakistan and Thailand

For the past three days a dozen of eggs was priced at PKR110 (US$1.07) in Pakistan, or over 30% higher than the previous PKR85 (US$0.83), according to price monitors.

A boiled egg sells for PKR20 (US$0.19) from PKR 15 (US$0.15) and a fried egg for PKR30 (US$0.29) from PKR 20 (US$0.19) in restaurants.

Amjad Abbasi, general secretary of the Rawalpindi Egg Wholesale Dealers Association, attributed the price hikes to a wide gap between supply and demand in the winter season.

He also cited the factor of logistics, saying the eggs were coming from poultry farms in far-off areas. "We bear huge transportation charges to bring eggs to Rawalpindi and Islamabad. We cannot maintain supply of eggs in the winter season and sometimes we have to bear their shortage in the peak winter season," he said.

In Thailand, layer farmers have raised the price of egg by THB0.20 or 20 satang (US$0.006) to THB2.80 (US$0.086) from THB2.60 (US$ 0.080).

According to The Nation newspaper, Annop Akkharanithiyanon, chairman of the Chicken Raisers Association, said the increase was made to reflect market demand and the cost of production.