Under scrutiny: A woman looking at the price of eggs at a shop in Chow Kit, Kuala Lumpur. — IZZRAFIQ ALIAS/The Star
PETALING JAYA: Prices of eggs across all grades have risen since subsidies were removed on Aug 1 but are expected to stabilise, say stakeholders.
Retail data shows that from Aug 5 to Sept 15, the price of a tray of 30 Grade AA eggs rose from RM13.50 to RM14.90.
Grade A eggs increased from RM12.60 to RM14.10, Grade B from RM12 to RM13.50, Grade C from RM11.40 to RM12.90, and Grade D from RM10.50 to RM12.30.
On average, egg prices climbed between two and eight sen each, with Grade D eggs recording the steepest rise.
Federation of Livestock Far-mers Associations of Malaysia vice-president Lee Yoon Yeau confirmed the upward trend but said prices remained reasonable.
He said production was more than sufficient, with farms producing between 30 and 32 million eggs daily to meet local demand.
“Prices of Grade A, B and C eggs have risen by about two to five sen per egg since August, mainly due to varying production costs faced by individual breeders,” he said.
Farmers are now selling at cost, with little to no profit, he added.
“The slight increase seen after the removal of the subsidies is part of a transition period.
“How long this lasts will depend on farm operating costs and whether feed prices rise further,” Lee said.
QL group director Chia Seong Pow described the market as stable, with supply and demand in equilibrium.
“The present retail price is not high compared with production costs,” he said, adding that the peak cost of about 46sen per egg was recorded between late 2022 and mid-2023 due to expensive feed.
Chia said Malaysia’s egg prices remained among the lowest in the region, with ex-farm rates still below Thailand (above 40sen), Indonesia (42sen), Cambodia (42sen) and Vietnam (39sen).
Ex-farm rates refer to the price of agricultural products at the farm gate, before transportation and other costs are added.
Deputy Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Minister Datuk Fuziah Salleh said according to the ministry’s data, the average price of Grade A, B and C eggs was stable, adding that changes came only after subsidies ended.
Before Aug 1, she explained, the production costs were already higher than the ceiling price set by the government.
“For all controlled grades of eggs, the production cost was roughly three sen higher than the ceiling price imposed by the government,” she told The Star.
Fuziah said her ministry, together with the Agriculture and Food Security Ministry, have been monitoring egg supply and prices daily since Aug 1.
Enforcement teams were also on the ground to prevent profiteering, including a dedicated operation team mobilised nationwide.
“If there are violations, such as failure to display price tags, action will be taken under the Price Control and Anti-Profiteering Act 2011,” she said, adding that checks were being conducted at supermarkets, wet markets and grocery stores.
Fuziah said notices have been issued with investigations launched against traders suspected of making excessive profits.
Consumers have been urged to act as the ministry’s “eyes and ears” by reporting irregularities through WhatsApp (019-848 8000), the e-Aduan portal (http://e.aduan.kpdn.gov.my), the 1-800-886-800 hotline or the Ez ADU KPDN mobile app.
