Hanoi: Poultry prices rise despite bird flu

HANOI – Despite the bird flu pandemic outbreak in seven provinces in the south, poultry prices in northern provinces keep rising as the Lunar New Year is nearing, writes Ha Yen on VietNamNet Bridge.
calendar icon 16 January 2007
clock icon 4 minute read
Poultry prices are staying at high levels at all traditional markets in Hanoi. In Gia Lam market, for example, the ready made chicken farmed in industrial way is now selling at VND33-35,000/kg, an increase of VND3-5,000/kg compared to several days ago. The ready made chicken raised by households in small scale is now selling at VND70-80,000/kg, up by VND10,000/kg, while the live fowls are priced at VND47-50,000/kg. The selling price of pigeon has been raised from VND25,000 to VND30,000/unit.

Nguyen Thi H., the owner of a shop specialising in poultry, said that the poultry prices have been increasing over the last two weeks. She said that the poultry prices keep rising while the purchasing power is not increasing.

Analysts said that poultry prices increase because of the fear for the bird flu pandemic which is threatening to break out in Hanoi. It is forecast that households in Hanoi will not raise fowls any more for fear of the pandemic, which will lead to the lower supply, while the Lunar New Year is coming nearer. It is expected that chicken prices will see further increases towards the Lunar New Year.

Unlike in Hanoi, after the New Year 2007 holiday, the purchasing power of poultry meat and eggs has been decreasing by 10-15% over the last month. In Tran Chanh Chieu market, the wholesale prices of ready made poultry have returned to the normal prices after they increased on the holiday. The prices of chicken raised in industrial farms are staying at VND29,000/kg, while the prices of chicken raised by households at 58-60,000/kg, and ducks are selling at VND40,000/kg.

In the central city of Da Nang, the purchasing power of poultry meat has been low as people have shifted to eat other kinds of meat instead of chicken for fear of the avian influenza.

The owner of a safe poultry booth at Con market said that the sold volume reduced by 30% over the previous month, while the safe poultry prices have just seen a little increases.

The ready made chicken prices at Con, Han, Hoa Khanh markets and at VND60,000 and VND30,000 per kilo for different kinds of chicken, while ducks are selling at VND40,000 per kilo. There exist the shops that sell live fowls and ducks, but they do not have many customers.

In related news, the prices of key goods that serve the daily demand of people have increased by 10-20%. Foodstuff has seen the biggest price increases, including pork, chicken and seafood. Pork prices have increased by 12%, and seafood by 15-20% just in the last few days. Vegetables prices have also increased again by 15% after one week of reducing.

Farm produce have also seen the price increases: rice prices have increased by VND1,000 per kilo on average.

Dao Duy Tan, Deputy Director General of the Hanoi Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, said that Hanoi consumes 280-300 tonnes of animal and poultry meat every day, while the city can provide 40% of the demand for pork, 48% of the demand for chicken, and 8% demand for beef. Similarly, the production in the city just can meet 40% of the demand for vegetables, while the remaining must be imported from the neighbouring sources.

A lot of other products have also seen the price increases, including gas (up pby VND14-15,000 per 12 kg tank), and vegetable oil by 10%, now selling at VND20-23,000/litre.

The Hanoi Trade Department has forecast that the consumption of goods of different kinds will increase by 30% on Tet days compared to normal days, and by 15% over the last year’s Tet day.

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