National Average Price of Chicken Eggs Reaches Rp30,000 in a Week: Here's Why

The National Strategic Food Price Information Center report shows that the national average price of chicken eggs has reached over Rp30,000 per kilogram.

For example, on August 25, 2022, the national price of chicken eggs reached Rp30,300 per kilogram. This is the highest price in the last week.

Papua recorded the highest chicken egg price on August 25, 2022, reaching Rp39,650 per kilogram. This was followed by Maluku and Gorontalo with chicken egg prices of Rp39,600 per kilogram and Rp36,850 per kilogram, respectively.

Trade Minister Zulkifli Hasan stated that there are two reasons for the recent increase in chicken egg prices in several regions, even reaching Rp30,000 per kilogram.

*First*, many businesses prematurely culled their laying hens or reduced production, leading to lower supply and higher prices.

*Second*, the Ministry of Social Affairs accelerated their social assistance program payments for three months at once. As a result, eggs became a highly demanded commodity, further reducing supply.

"So, one (reason) is premature culling, and the Ministry of Social Affairs' three-month accelerated social assistance payments increased egg demand for the social assistance program, thus driving up prices," said the man familiarly known as Zulhas, as quoted by Tempo.co on Wednesday (August 24, 2022).

Therefore, the Ministry of Trade will summon large-scale egg producers or integrators who can influence market prices. "So that they no longer prematurely cull their hens, and prices return to normal," said Zulhas.

With this effort, Zulhas is optimistic that egg prices will fall within the next three to four weeks. "But at a fair price, affordable for consumers and profitable for farmers," he said.