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http://newpaper.asia1.com.sg/news/story/0,4136,186441,00.html?
It's so eggs-pensive
Shortage of M'sian eggs & fewer hens behind price hikes, says veteran egg seller
By Benson Ang
December 12, 2008
TNP PICTURE: BENSON ANG
OLD-TIMERS may remember a time when you took your own egg to a hawker to save on paying extra.
Now, the way egg prices have been going up, that may seem like a good idea again.
Mr Tan Lau Huah, 62, chairman of Singapore's Eggs Import and Export Trading Association, said he has never seen such a rapid increase in the price of fresh hen eggs.
He has been selling eggs for more than 50 years.
'Egg prices tend to increase more in the festive season, but never as quickly as this,' he said.
Selling eggs has been his livelihood since primary school, when he would work part-time at his father's egg stall.
He now owns Chuan Seng Huat Egg Store, on Tai Seng Avenue, which imports eggs from Malaysia, and supplies them to hotels, restaurants, supermarkets and wet markets.
Earlier, he used to sell eggs on Killiney Road.
The veteran 'egg-man' signs contracts to sell eggs at a fixed price for a few months.
With the price increase, he will have to bear the extra cost for the coming months.
More expensive cakes
But will all of his buyers eventually be affected by the price increase?
'Of course. When I buy expensive, I have to sell expensive,' he said.
'Christmas cakes, custards. Chinese New Year egg rolls, egg tarts, tea eggs. These will also be more expensive.'
Since the end of October, the cost of 10 eggs has risen about 25 cents - five times, 5 cents each time.
In October, he sold a set of 10 eggs for $1.50. Now, they go for $1.75.
This was confirmed by one of his egg distributors, a 60-year-old who wanted to be known only as Mr Tan.
Said Mr Tan, who has been buying eggs for more than 20 years: 'Eggs were never this expensive, except during the bird flu crisis.'
At Sheng Siong Supermarket, the price of eggs has risen twice in one week. A set of 10 eggs now costs $1.60, up from $1.50 a week ago.
According to Mr Tan, the rise in prices is due to a shortage in Malaysia, from which all of Singapore's egg imports now come.
After eggs from China were found to contain excessive levels of melamine, Hong Kong and Indonesian markets have also turned to Malaysia.
But according to Mr Tan, Malaysia's supply of eggs is suffering because of the high price of corn early this year.
'Farmers bought fewer chicks because of the expensive feed, and now, there are fewer egg-laying hens.
'With the bird flu in Hong Kong, the price of eggs from Malaysia will definitely increase' said Mr Tan.
AFP reported that on Tuesday, Hong Kong health authorities announced the territory's first outbreak of bird flu in nearly six years.
Bird flu was found on a poultry farm, and all the chickens - more than 80,000 of them - within a 3km radius of the farm were to be slaughtered.
Health Secretary York Chow reportedly raised the avian flu alert in the city to 'serious'.
Increased demand
Mr Tan estimates that the egg prices will rise by another 10 cents by Chinese New Year, because of increased demand.
'It's very hard for us now, since the price for all other foods have fallen. My clients are making a lot of noise,' he said.
'It's better that the newspapers report the increase, so I can explain that it's not just me who is charging more.'
At its lowest price, an egg could cost less than 10 cents. This was before the bird flu epidemic of 2003. After the epidemic, prices never returned to 10 cents again.
Mr Tan lives in a condominium unit in the Hillview area, with his wife and son.
He also has three daughters, in their 30s, who are married and living with their husbands. None of his children want to sell eggs.
He said that fortunately, the prices of salted and century eggs, which are imported from China and Thailand, will remain unchanged.
While he believes Chinese New Year goodies may be more expensive next year, the increase will be minimal because the price of fuel, flour, and other food products have fallen.
But Mr Tan said that although eggs are the most expensive they have ever been, the price has to be put in perspective.
'Eggs are still very affordable things,' he said. 'And what else can you substitute eggs with?'
It's so eggs-pensive
Shortage of M'sian eggs & fewer hens behind price hikes, says veteran egg seller
By Benson Ang
December 12, 2008
TNP PICTURE: BENSON ANG
OLD-TIMERS may remember a time when you took your own egg to a hawker to save on paying extra.
Now, the way egg prices have been going up, that may seem like a good idea again.
Mr Tan Lau Huah, 62, chairman of Singapore's Eggs Import and Export Trading Association, said he has never seen such a rapid increase in the price of fresh hen eggs.
He has been selling eggs for more than 50 years.
'Egg prices tend to increase more in the festive season, but never as quickly as this,' he said.
Selling eggs has been his livelihood since primary school, when he would work part-time at his father's egg stall.
He now owns Chuan Seng Huat Egg Store, on Tai Seng Avenue, which imports eggs from Malaysia, and supplies them to hotels, restaurants, supermarkets and wet markets.
Earlier, he used to sell eggs on Killiney Road.
The veteran 'egg-man' signs contracts to sell eggs at a fixed price for a few months.
With the price increase, he will have to bear the extra cost for the coming months.
More expensive cakes
But will all of his buyers eventually be affected by the price increase?
'Of course. When I buy expensive, I have to sell expensive,' he said.
'Christmas cakes, custards. Chinese New Year egg rolls, egg tarts, tea eggs. These will also be more expensive.'
Since the end of October, the cost of 10 eggs has risen about 25 cents - five times, 5 cents each time.
In October, he sold a set of 10 eggs for $1.50. Now, they go for $1.75.
This was confirmed by one of his egg distributors, a 60-year-old who wanted to be known only as Mr Tan.
Said Mr Tan, who has been buying eggs for more than 20 years: 'Eggs were never this expensive, except during the bird flu crisis.'
At Sheng Siong Supermarket, the price of eggs has risen twice in one week. A set of 10 eggs now costs $1.60, up from $1.50 a week ago.
According to Mr Tan, the rise in prices is due to a shortage in Malaysia, from which all of Singapore's egg imports now come.
After eggs from China were found to contain excessive levels of melamine, Hong Kong and Indonesian markets have also turned to Malaysia.
But according to Mr Tan, Malaysia's supply of eggs is suffering because of the high price of corn early this year.
'Farmers bought fewer chicks because of the expensive feed, and now, there are fewer egg-laying hens.
'With the bird flu in Hong Kong, the price of eggs from Malaysia will definitely increase' said Mr Tan.
AFP reported that on Tuesday, Hong Kong health authorities announced the territory's first outbreak of bird flu in nearly six years.
Bird flu was found on a poultry farm, and all the chickens - more than 80,000 of them - within a 3km radius of the farm were to be slaughtered.
Health Secretary York Chow reportedly raised the avian flu alert in the city to 'serious'.
Increased demand
Mr Tan estimates that the egg prices will rise by another 10 cents by Chinese New Year, because of increased demand.
'It's very hard for us now, since the price for all other foods have fallen. My clients are making a lot of noise,' he said.
'It's better that the newspapers report the increase, so I can explain that it's not just me who is charging more.'
At its lowest price, an egg could cost less than 10 cents. This was before the bird flu epidemic of 2003. After the epidemic, prices never returned to 10 cents again.
Mr Tan lives in a condominium unit in the Hillview area, with his wife and son.
He also has three daughters, in their 30s, who are married and living with their husbands. None of his children want to sell eggs.
He said that fortunately, the prices of salted and century eggs, which are imported from China and Thailand, will remain unchanged.
While he believes Chinese New Year goodies may be more expensive next year, the increase will be minimal because the price of fuel, flour, and other food products have fallen.
But Mr Tan said that although eggs are the most expensive they have ever been, the price has to be put in perspective.
'Eggs are still very affordable things,' he said. 'And what else can you substitute eggs with?'
