Egg Prices Go up Again as Mercury Rises
THAILAND - Chicken egg prices rose again in several parts of the country yesterday (27 May), with farmers and sellers blaming the increases on hot weather, rising demand and exports.In Buri Ram province, chicken egg prices have risen three times this month alone, Bangkok Post reports.
The latest increase occurred yesterday, with the price going up by 10 satang per egg. The largest eggs cost 4.50 baht apiece. Vendors at the Buri Ram municipal market say their sales are dropping because people are buying fewer eggs at the higher prices.
Local vendors Plian Wetcharam and Prapha Kaeo-ake said chicken farmers claimed they had to raise egg prices because the hot weather had caused their birds to lay fewer eggs.
In Phitsanulok province, the retail price rose by 90 satang per egg yesterday.
Vendor Phitsanu Yoddamnoen said the number of chickens laying eggs was dropping, while demand for eggs has risen at the beginning of the new school term.
The local price of chicken eggs rose from 3.50-3.80 baht to 4.20-4.50 baht per egg, depending on their size. Food vendors have raised the price of fried eggs from 5-7 baht each to 10 baht.
In Ang Thong province, prices are on the rise for both chicken and duck eggs.
A large chicken egg was priced at 4.50 baht yesterday, and the price is to increase by a further 10 satang today. Chicken farmers there also claimed the hot weather was affecting egg supplies.
Many local food vendors have taken dishes containing eggs off the menu, while consumers are asking authorities to control egg prices and verify the farmers' claims.
In Phichit province, chicken egg prices rose from 2.50-4 baht to 3.50-4.20 baht apiece, but large eggs were not available.
Local vendors said some consumers had stopped buying eggs.
Tewin Wannaying, a chicken egg wholesaler in Nakhon Ratchasima province, said the price of chicken eggs rose by 10-20 per cent a year because of demand for egg exports limiting local supplies, old egg-layers being removed, and rising demand at the beginning of the new school term.
He said he does not think the weather is a factor because chicken farms are temperature-controlled. He urged authorities to control chicken egg prices at farms.
Chicken egg prices have also increased in Bangkok and surrounding areas. Average prices range from 3.50 to 4.20 baht apiece at the Ying Charoen market and from 3.30 to 4.20 baht at the Talad Thai market.