Prices of poultry products ruled almost flat in Namakkal — the hub of poultry trade — owing to decline in consumption on account of the festival season.

The Namakkal-based National Egg Coordination Committee (NECC) fixed egg prices at last week's level of Rs 2.35 a piece. It has also chosen to retain last week's level of Rs 40 a kg for layer birds. The Palladam-based Broiler Coordination Committee too has retained last week's Rs 62 a kg.

The Hindu Business Line reports that although there is a slump in demand, there is no slowdown in production, and layer producers are saddled with stocks.

“The poultry layer market may see some taming in table egg and layer prices in the coming weeks as we have decided to prune egg prices by 5 paise to Rs 2.30 a piece next week. Layer prices too will be slashed to Rs 37 a kg from the present Rs 40 a kg,” said an NECC official.

Things are not too rosy on the export front also. Shell egg exports for August from Namakkal was 110 containers (of 4.75 lakh eggs each) as against 241 containers shipped during the same period last year.

“This is mainly because of the rising domestic prices that we are losing our competitiveness in the global market to Brazil and Poland, which are giving us a stiff competition because of their low cost and large-sized eggs,” said Mr R. Nallathambi, President, Tamil Nadu Poultry Farmers' Association.