THE public is getting increasingly frustrated as the country continues to grapple with the shortage of eggs, The Star reported.

Industry players said that whatever available stock is quickly bought up and are worried that the situation will persist if the government did not intervene.

Federation of Sundry Goods Merchants Associations of Malaysia president Hong Chee Meng said the shortage had yet to be resolved since it was highlighted two months ago.

“According to our members, the eggs are all snapped up within hours when they arrive at their designated outlets. As such, the sundry shops do not have any stock left,” he was quoted as saying.

As production costs increase, Hong said that measures have to be taken to prevent the resulting shortage of eggs. 

Yesterday, the Task Force on Jihad Against Inflation rejected recommendations to float the prices of eggs or to import eggs although there is a shortage of supply in the domestic market.

Its chairman Annuar Musa confirmed that there was a shortfall of more than 96 million eggs a month, as higher production costs had caused monthly output to drop to only 871.9 million eggs compared to demand totalling 968.8 million eggs.

“We do not view the import option as a solution. This is because the prices of eggs are far higher outside, so it is not possible to import more expensive eggs and sell at a cheaper price in the country. Furthermore, we want to protect the local production industry.

“And if egg prices are floated, they will surge by at least 12 sen. So, the task force is not agreeable to this suggestion although floating is seen as a more sustainable way out, especially in the opinion of producers at farms,” he said. 

Klang Coast Sundry Goods Merchants’ Association president Tan Teck Hock said since the shortage, consumers have resorted to buying kampung eggs, which are not price controlled.

He also said that supply had dropped by 50%.

“Eggs are restocked every Wednesday at my shop. Some of my regulars will ask me to reserve some eggs for them, which I do but the stock would be sold out quickly.”

Egg producer Wong Wei Chang said “panic buying” had caused supply to run out fast.

He said that the new wave of bird flu in Europe has impacted poultry farming, apart the hike in maize and soybean feed costs to make chicken feed.

Annuar said the current price of eggs at the farm level is 41 sen each for grade A, 39 sen for grade B and 37 sen for grade C.

However, the production cost at the farm level for grade A eggs is 51 sen each. – October 26, 2022.