October 6, 2004

Singapore's Imports Of Malaysian Chicken Above Pre-Ban Levels

  
Singapore is now importing more chickens from Malaysian states Johor and Malacca each day than it did before the ban. The Republic had imposed a six-week ban on Malaysian chickens due to a bird flu outbreak in Kelantan on August 17.

However the numbers are still not back to pre-ban levels for eggs and ducks.

Since October 1, there has been a steady stream of Malaysian chickens, ducks and eggs coming into Singapore.

On average 180,000 chickens are delivered from farms in Malacca and Johor each day, compared to 120,000 before the ban.

But the daily shipment for eggs totals only 1.3 million, a shortfall of two million compared with pre-ban levels.

As most duck farms are in Perak, which still faces a ban, the import volume is 6,000, compared with 20,000 previously.

Eggs may have made a comeback but they are more costly now compared with pre-ban levels.

An egg used to cost 12 cents, suppliers presently charge more than double that price.

Some vendors may absorb the price increase so that consumers will not be affected.