Chicken Egg Prices Rise, Other Wet Goods Remain Stable

KUALA LUMPUR: The prices of raw ingredients such as chicken, meat and seafood at the Chow Kit Market in the capital have remained unchanged, despite the government implementing a reduction in subsidised diesel prices to RM2.10 per litre nearly three weeks ago.

A Harian Metro survey at the market here found that chicken is being sold at between RM9.50 and RM10.50 per kilogramme (kg).

Beef prices, meanwhile, range from RM24 to RM26 per kg depending on the type and cut.

Chicken eggs are being sold at RM13.80 for 30 eggs or one tray for Grade AA, Grade A (RM13.50), Grade B (RM12.60), Grade C (RM11.40), Grade D (RM9.90) and Grade E (RM8.40).

There has been a price increase, particularly for eggs, with Grade B previously priced at RM11.70, Grade C at RM9.90, Grade D at RM8.10 and Grade E at RM6.90 during a survey on July 3.

Poultry trader Md Husin Mohamed, 49, said retail chicken prices have remained at RM10.50 per kilogramme since the diesel price hike, and have yet to show any decrease even though the government announced a reduction in subsidised diesel prices through BUDI MADANI.

According to him, the price he receives from suppliers is currently RM9.20 per kilogramme, leaving traders with a profit margin of only about RM1.20 to RM1.30 per kilogramme.

“The price from farms and suppliers remains the same. We are hoping that perhaps next week there will be a decrease, but so far there has been none,” said the trader, who has been selling chicken at Chow Kit Market for over 30 years.

Meanwhile, meat trader Mohd Sahrin Mohd Arshad, 45, said beef prices have remained between RM24 and RM26 per kilogramme since after Aidiladha.

According to him, the supply price from suppliers remains around RM20 to RM21 per kilogramme, and the actual profit obtained by traders is small after factoring in the cleaning process.

“If we sell thawed meat, the profit is only about RM1 plus. We need to sell in large quantities to get better profits,” he said.

A seafood shop worker, Agong Abdul, 30, said fish prices change according to daily supply and demand.

According to him, current prices include sardines at RM12 per kg, anchovies at RM13/kg, crabs at RM24/kg and trevally at RM11/kg.

Other prices include pomfret (RM22/kg), threadfin bream (RM14 to RM15/kg), grouper (RM13 to RM14/kg), mirror fish (RM14 to RM15/kg), tuna (RM11/kg) and milkfish (RM15/kg).

“Prices are indeed unpredictable. They can change up to three times in a single day, depending on supply and other traders’ prices.

“We also do not want to keep fish for too long because the quality will deteriorate. So it is better for us to sell at a slightly lower price,” he said.

Meanwhile, a customer, Saerah Hassan, 52, said wet goods prices at the market have yet to show any decrease even though the government has announced a reduction in subsidised diesel prices.

She said most consumers are hoping that chicken, meat and seafood prices would become cheaper to help reduce their daily living expenses.

“I come to buy wet goods every week, but so far prices are still the same. Some items like eggs have even gone up compared to before.

“As a consumer, I hope that with transportation costs already reduced, traders and suppliers can lower their prices so that the people can also enjoy the benefits,” she said.

Harian Metro