June 12, 2023

Thailand chicken egg prices surge to all-time high

Egg traders in Thailand are pointing to a shortage of chicken egg supplies at farms due to the replacement of older hens and a rise in demand for egg exports as the primary reason for the surge in egg prices in the country, Bangkok Post reported.

Wanchai Rungmitcharatsaeng, a 65-year-old egg shop owner in Khon Kaen's Muang district, said that egg prices have reached an all-time high, affecting the operations of most Thai egg sellers. Due to the current price situation, sellers have ceased offering the largest-sized eggs, referred to as No. 0 eggs, as they are concerned about potential sluggish sales compared to smaller and more affordable eggs.

Rungmitcharatsaeng said that a carton of 30 No. 0 eggs now wholesales for THB 145 (~US$4.18; THB 10 =- US$0.29). In the past, it was around THB 140 (~US$4.04) per carton. The smaller-sized No. 1 eggs have a wholesale price of THB 135 (~US$3.89) per carton.

Over the past few months, egg prices in Thailand have been gradually rising, with an increase of THB 2 (~US$0.058) to 6 (~US$0.17) per carton each time.

Suthasin Amaruek, president of the Thai Egg Merchant Trade Association, raised concerns about the rise in prices even for smaller-sized eggs such as No. 3, 4, and 5, which are not typically needed for exports.

-      Bangkok Post