February 5, 2004

 

 

Hong Kong Egg Prices Up 20% Following China Export Ban

 

Egg prices in Hong Kong increased by at least 20 per cent on Wednesday, with restaurants stocking up supplies following a ban on egg imports from China. 

 

Chan Wah, an egg wholesaler at a wet market in Java Road, North Point, who supplies restaurants, said: "The wholesale price of 30 Chinese eggs was $12 but now it has gone up to $15.

 

"Many restaurants have ordered more eggs from us. Some ordered several times more than usual.

 

"But the problem is that we don't have enough supply for  everyone."

 

Mr Chan said most of the eggs sold in Hong Kong came from the mainland, although eggs from Germany and the United States were also widely available now.

 

He said some wholesalers used to import eggs from Thailand, "but nobody is importing them since the bird flu outbreak there".

 

He added: "Eggs from Germany are expensive and most restaurants only use Chinese eggs. American eggs are mainly used for breakfast."

 

German eggs were more than twice as dear as Chinese ones, costing $400 for 30 dozen, said Mr Chan. The price equates to $33.30 for 30, or $11.10 for 10.

 

Another vendor at the market said he had sold more eggs than usual yesterday and so prices had gone up.

 

"On Tuesday, 10 eggs from Germany were sold at $7. Yesterday, they were sold at $8," he said.

 

Mr Chan said he was informed by his mainland suppliers that the Chinese government had stopped exporting eggs to Hong Kong.

 

"They told me that the authorities had barred them from transporting eggs to Hong Kong.

 

"I don't think we can order more eggs from them this week," he added.