Eggs Sold Below Cost: Large Farms Dump Prices, Squeezing Small Farmers

Thansettakij•Economy•222d ago

Reader Briefing

Thai small-scale egg farmers are facing significant financial losses due to large farms and wholesalers artificially lowering egg prices below production cost.

•Thai egg prices are falling below production costs, causing heavy losses for small-scale poultry farmers.
•Large farms and intermediaries are accused of dumping eggs at extremely low prices, distorting the market.
•Increased production costs due to disease prevention measures from neighboring countries' avian flu outbreaks are exacerbating the situation.
•The Small Central Region Egg Farmers Association is urging government intervention to investigate price manipulation and support struggling farmers.

Overview

•The Thai egg market is experiencing significant concern as prices have continuously dropped below production costs.
•Small-scale poultry farmers are suffering severe accumulated losses due to the current market situation.
•The market is distorted by the selling behavior of some large farms and intermediaries, who are dumping prices.
•The average production cost for eggs is 3.22 baht per egg, while farmers are forced to sell at 3.20 baht, with actual sales being 20-30 satang lower.
•The Small Central Region Egg Farmers Association is calling for government investigation into large farms and major egg traders engaging in price dumping.
•This price distortion prevents small-scale farmers from competing and negatively affects the entire egg industry.
•The Small Central Region Egg Farmers Association warns that prolonged losses may force farmers to leave the profession, impacting long-term production stability and food security.
•The association urges all egg farms to adhere to the guidelines for culling laying hens at specified ages to help balance supply and demand.

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Source: Thansettakij (Original)

Key Quotes

Payao Arikul

"Even though the announced wholesale egg price is already low at 3.20 baht per egg, farmers are actually selling for another 20-30 satang less per egg, while the average production cost is 3.22 baht per egg, meaning farmers lose money every day eggs are sold."

แม้ราคาประกาศไข่ไก่คละจะอยู่ที่ฟองละ 3.20 บาท ซึ่งถือว่าต่ำอยู่แล้ว แต่เกษตรกรกลับขายจริงได้ต่ำกว่าราคาประกาศอีก 20–30 สตางค์ต่อฟอง ขณะที่ต้นทุนการผลิตเฉลี่ยอยู่ที่ 3.22 บาทต่อฟอง เท่ากับว่าผู้เลี้ยงต้องขาดทุนทุกวันที่มีการจำหน่ายไข่

Payao Arikul

"If farmers face prolonged losses, they may be forced to quit their profession, which will long-term affect production stability and food security."

หากเกษตรกรต้องเผชิญภาวะขาดทุนเป็นระยะเวลานาน อาจจำเป็นต้องเลิกอาชีพ ซึ่งจะส่งผลกระทบต่อเสถียรภาพการผลิตและความมั่นคงทางอาหารในระยะยาว

Key Entities

Organization

Small Central Region Egg Farmers Association(สมาคมการค้าผู้เลี้ยงไก่ไข่รายย่อยภาคกลาง)

An organization representing small-scale egg farmers in the central region of Thailand, advocating for their interests.

Egg Board (Committee for the Development Policy of Laying Hens and Products)(คณะกรรมการนโยบายพัฒนาไก่ไข่และผลิตภัณฑ์ (Egg Board))

A committee responsible for setting policies related to the development of laying hens and their products in Thailand.

Person

Payao Arikul(นางพเยาว์ อริกุล)

President of the Small Central Region Egg Farmers Association, who commented on the critical state of the egg market.