Egg prices hit record highs in Myanmar as shortages disrupt sales

Egg prices in Myanmar have climbed to record levels in recent days, with retail prices reaching as high as 700 kyat (about $0.15) per egg, as supply shortages and rising production costs disrupt the market and force some major retailers to suspend sales. The price surge, the steepest on record in Myanmar, has been attributed to a combination of poultry disease, rising feed costs, and restrictions on imported livestock production inputs, according to egg distributors, retailers, and industry groups. Retail egg prices, which had generally ranged between 400 and 500 kyat in recent months depending on size, have risen to between 650 and 700 kyat in parts of Yangon and other areas with higher transportation costs. Wholesale prices have reached about 550 kyat per egg. “We cannot increase the price of eggs,” an employee at a major shopping mall in Mandalay told Myanmar Now. The employee, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the store had stopped selling eggs because suppliers could no longer provide them at the retail price set by the regime. Myanmar’s junta-controlled Ministry of Commerce has fixed the price of a tray of 10 eggs at 3,650 kyat and has conducted inspections to ensure retailers comply. However, market prices have risen to between 4,000 and 5,000 kyat per tray, making it difficult for major retailers to continue sales at the official rate, according to the employee. Major supermarket chains, including Makro and City Mart, have suspended egg sales in some locations as negotiations with suppliers continue, the employee said. An egg distributor in Yangon’s Insein Township, who also did not want to be identified, said poultry disease during the transition from the hot season to the rainy season reduced production at some farms. At the same time, restrictions affecting imported feed ingredients, chicks, and veterinary medicines increased production costs. “Currently, poultry feed prices are very high,” the distributor said. “Because feed prices are high, egg prices are rising. When feed prices go down, egg prices are likely to fall.” The distributor said Myanmar depends heavily on imported livestock production inputs. Layer chicks cannot be produced domestically, locally manufactured veterinary medicines meet only about 10% of demand, and domestic production supplies roughly half of the country’s poultry feed requirements. Higher production costs have reduced profitability for poultry farmers, leading some to scale back operations while overall egg production has declined, the distributor said. People purchase eggs at subsidised prices (Photo: Myanmar Livestock Federation) The Myanmar Livestock Federation said in a July 18 statement that shortages of vaccines and feed ingredients have increased production costs and that recent disease outbreaks have reduced egg production and distribution, contributing to price volatility. The federation said it is working with authorities to stabilise production and distribution. Beginning July 20, eggs were scheduled to be sold at designated locations across nine townships in Yangon for 550 kyat each as part of an effort to increase consumer access. A wholesaler in Yangon said the subsidised sales would provide limited relief because supplies remain scarce. “There are no eggs in the market,” said the wholesaler, who requested anonymity. “You can’t get as many eggs as you need.” Myanmar’s military junta has imposed price controls on several staple goods, including rice, cooking oil, and eggs, and has previously taken action against retailers accused of selling above official prices. The regime has also restricted imports since seizing power in 2021, citing the need to conserve foreign currency reserves. Industry representatives say those restrictions have limited imports of livestock medicines, breeding stock, and feed ingredients, contributing to higher production costs. The Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Irrigation said in August 2024 that Myanmar continued to rely on imports for livestock medicines and breeding stock while planning to gradually replace imported soybean meal used in animal feed with domestically produced alternatives over a three-year period. State-run newspaper Kyemon has acknowledged that rising production costs and lower yields could push egg prices to between 600 and 700 kyat per egg, while stating that authorities intend to increase domestic production of livestock feed ingredients to help reduce prices over time. Myanmar has experienced repeated shortages of imported goods, including fuel and cooking oil, amid ongoing foreign currency constraints. Business associations have periodically organised discounted sales of essential goods, though limited supplies have often resulted in long lines at designated distribution points.

Egg prices hit record highs in Myanmar as shortages disrupt sales

Rising input costs and artificially low retail prices set by the regime have prompted some poultry farmers to scale back production

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