Egg producers lament decline in egg prices amid oversupply

Philippine egg producers are lamenting the recent drop in egg prices across the country, as they are not able to recuperate their operating costs and expenses amid an oversupply of their product.

According to the Philippine Egg Board Association, they are now in a shortfall as farmgate prices are reported at P4.83 per piece, but they spend P4.93, covering expenses such as poultry feeds.

For its part, the Department of Agriculture (DA) said it is looking at assisting the local industry in exporting the excess supply to markets such as Taiwan and nearby countries, similar to what was done in April.

“Last month, meron na tayong mga na-export na (we exported) 3.24 million eggs, and we are looking at ‘yung repeat order ba,” DA Assistant Secretary Kristine Evangelista said in a report by Sandra Aguinaldo on GMA’s “24 Oras Weekend” on Sunday.

The DA said it is also coordinating with the local restaurant and baking industry for them to procure the eggs. It is also looking at ways to lower feed prices, along with vaccination against bird flu to boost exports.

Philippine Egg Board Association Chairman Gregorio San Diego noted, however, that requirements for them to export are quite difficult to meet.

“Actually, medyo mahirap ang aming requirements — kukuha ka ng certification na walang bird flu, ‘yung sa mga salmonella,” he said in the same report.

(Actually, our requirements are quite difficult — you have to get a certification that there is no bird flu, and another for salmonella.) — Jon Viktor Cabuenas/DVM, GMA Integrated News