May 17, 2004

Poultry Egg Prices Rose Modestly in China's Major Cities in April

An eFeedLink Exclusive Report

According to a monitoring market survey of poultry egg prices in China's 36 major cities, prices have risen marginally in April.  Due to the bird flu outbreak in the beginning of the year that caused a widespread decline in the country's poultry inventory in the first quarter, the supply of poultry products in the Chinese market have been adversely affected. 

With the increase in prices of poultry feed, the production cost of poultry eggs have increased in tandem recently. Average retail price of chicken meat in China's major cities in April is RMB5.44, a 2.06% higher than March, while that of eggs is RMB2.76, a 3.37% higher than March. Prices of poultry products in most Chinese cities showed an increase in April, with some areas showing a more significant price rise.  In particular, prices of chicken meat in Hefei, Ningbo, Beijing, Taiyuan, Tianjin, Nanchang, and Wulumuqi cities have all increased in April. Prices in these respective cities are 28.71%, 20.83%, 15.14%, 14.5%, 14.16%, 11.3% and 10.46% higher than prices in March.

Egg prices in Yingchuan, Xining, Hangzhou and Zhengzhou cities in April have also increased.  Prices in these respective cities are 18.88%, 13.04%, 11.54% and 11.45% higher than prices in March. 

However, compared to prices in March, prices of chicken meat in Chengdu have fallen by 14.2%, while egg prices in Shenzhen have dropped by 9.91% in April.