Trade group expects minimal hikes when price ceiling on chicken ends

 

The current price ceiling set by the government, for a standard chicken is RM9.40 per kg.

PETALING JAYA: A group representing livestock farmers expects minimal hikes in the price of chicken once the price ceiling on chicken is lifted next year.

Jeffrey Ng, adviser to the Federation of Livestock Farmers’ Associations of Malaysia (FLFAM), said this is partly due to the declining price of chicken feed, which now sells at between RM123 to RM130 per 50 kg.

“A rise in chicken prices is guaranteed (after the ceiling is removed) because the current price ceiling is lower than our production costs. If it doesn’t rise, farmers will be at a loss. Who would want to farm chickens anymore if that is the case?

“However, we expect chicken prices to stabilise and balance out because the price of chicken feed has gone down a bit. This month alone it has decreased by RM2 for a 50 kg bag, and we’re hoping that it decreases further.

“If it does, then that means our production and operation costs will reduce again,” he told FMT, adding that a 50 kg bag of chicken feed sold for about RM80 just three years ago.

Ng said chicken prices cannot go up too much as it will lead to an oversupply in the market, as no one would be purchasing the birds if prices were exorbitant.

In tabling the 2024 budget, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said the price ceiling for eggs and chicken will be lifted. He said the details on this will be announced by the agriculture and food security ministry.

The current price ceiling set by the government for a standard chicken is RM9.40 per kg, while the price for eggs are Grade A (45 sen per egg), Grade B (43 sen) and Grade C (41 sen) in the peninsula.

In Langkawi, Sabah, Sarawak and Labuan, the maximum price for both items differ according to the respective zones and districts.

Meanwhile, Ng said FLFAM met with government officials yesterday to discuss the suggested prices when the ceiling price is removed.

“We have given our suggestions, and now we wait for the government to decide. We ask the government to help farmers for a while (until prices stabilise). We don’t want farmers to end up registering losses when the prices are floated.” - FMT