August 6, 2008

Philippine chicken prices rise by 37 percent

Prices of chicken in the Philippines, particularly in the Visayas, surged by 37 percent from PHP95 to PHP130 per kilogramme due to hikes in feeds and fuel costs, Antonio Utzurrum of the Poultry Association of BroilerIntegrators inNegros Occidental, said Tuesday (August 5).

Utzurrum also added that the demand for chicken went up after Typhoon Frank as people shifted to chicken after scarcity in fish supply.

July and August are normally lean months for chicken consumption and producers did not anticipate an increase in demand, Utzurrum said.

Currently, Negros has adequate production of chicken, yet demand from other areas has gone up.

Utzurrum emphasized that the increase in Philippine chicken prices has not been caused by the rise in demand but because of the hike in the costs of production.