June 16, 2022

Malaysia partially lifts chicken export ban, permits shipments of kampung and black chicken

Malaysia has partially relaxed its chicken export ban imposed on June 1, permitting shipments of live kampung and black chicken to Singapore, The Straits Times reported.

Kee Song Food, a chicken importer, said the Malaysian authorities has permitted the company to bring in live kampung chickens from Malaysia on June 14 and black chickens from June 18.

Smaller varieties of chicken, such as kampung chicken and black chicken, are considered premium and more expensive. The ban on exports of commercial broiler chicken from Malaysia remains.

James Sim, head of business development at Kee Song, showed The Straits Times a letter from Malaysia's Department of Veterinary Services which allowed exports of live kampung and black chicken. The move to partially lift the ban was confirmed by a top Malaysian government official to the newspaper, who did not want to be named.

Sim said that Kee Song has begun taking orders for fresh kampung and black chicken. Wet market poultry vendors, chicken rice hawkers, and restaurants are among the company's clients.

Malaysia banned chicken exports on June 1 to keep domestic production and prices stable. The supply of fresh chicken in Singapore, which imports about a third (34%) of its chicken from Malaysia, dropped dramatically in the first two weeks of this month.

The majority of Singapore's chicken comes from Malaysia, where it is imported live and slaughtered in abattoirs. Singapore imports chicken from countries like Brazil and the US, but this is usually frozen.

Kampung chicken accounts for about 25% to 30% of the total chicken supply at Kee Song Food. Black chicken accounts for 3% to 5% of the total.

-      The Straits Times