Economy Rising Egg Prices in Thailand Strain Consumers and Businesses

[snoop1130]

File photo for reference only

 

Thailand is grappling with rising egg prices, particularly impacting provinces such as Nakhon Ratchasima, Buri Ram, and Phitsanulok. This price surge is straining both consumers and businesses as they struggle with increased costs.

 

The Director-general of the Department of Internal Trade, Wittayakorn Maneenetr, attributes the increase to extreme heat, which has reduced egg production. Hens are laying fewer and smaller eggs, while farms are incurring higher costs due to extra cooling measures needed to combat the heat.

 

To mitigate the impact, the department has introduced its "Mobile Blue Flag" programme, distributing eggs at lower prices in selected areas. Wittayakorn assures that there is no risk of an egg shortage, citing daily production of 44.52 million eggs against an average consumption of 43.3 million.

 

However, prices have already risen. On April 17, the network of poultry farmer cooperatives increased egg prices by 20 satang, or about six baht per tray of 30 eggs. In Buri Ram's fresh markets, tray prices have risen by 9–15 baht, putting pressure on retailers like Thonglor Kacheumram, who faces a 20% increase in costs.

 

 

 

The restaurant industry is similarly affected. Khemchat Suwanjak, a restaurant owner in Nakhon Ratchasima, expressed concern about maintaining prices to support his customer base amid an economic downturn. "Although my costs have gone up, I have to keep my prices level to maintain my customer base," he explained.

 

In Phitsanulok, egg prices vary between 3.6–4.8 baht per egg, depending on size. Preecha Aimim, an egg shop owner, is attempting to hold steady prices but might have to adjust as new stock rolls in at higher prices.

 

The rising costs are leading market vendors and traders to call for government intervention. Boonlert Polsawang, a food merchant, highlighted the challenge of balancing the costs of raw eggs with processing and fuel expenses, noting that energy price fluctuations greatly affect retail pricing.

 

Amid these pressures, there is increasing demand for government action to alleviate financial burdens on both consumers and businesses as they navigate this challenging price landscape.

 

Adapted by ASEAN Now from The Thaiger

 

-- 2025-04-21

 

 

[Gsxrnz]

I'm all for the metric system, but buying eggs in packs of ten is just wrong. 

[GammaGlobulin]

51 minutes ago, Gsxrnz said:

I'm all for the metric system, but buying eggs in packs of ten is just wrong. 

 

Just buy them in a tray of 100 eggs per tray.

Then store in refrigerator.

They last forever, you know.

 

[KhunBENQ]

55 minutes ago, Gsxrnz said:

I'm all for the metric system, but buying eggs in packs of ten is just wrong. 

The trays are 30 eggs.

Last price here was 120 Baht (medium size).

4 Baht, about 12 US cent per egg.

Tell our US fellows that this is an egg price crisis 

 

Pack of 10 and 30 is indeed styleless.

Traditionely it was 12 (dozen) and multiples.

[JensenZ]

Betagro eggs, a tray of #1 yesterday was 135 baht as usual. Egg prices have gone down for me.

[Smokey and the Bandit]

1 hour ago, GammaGlobulin said:

 

Just buy them in a tray of 100 eggs per tray.

Then store in refrigerator.

They last forever, you know.

 

Certainly a few weeks, but maybe 'forever' is pushing it?

[spidermike007]

I am back in the US and egg prices are now down to $6 to $7 a dozen, or 17 baht per egg. But, everything here is grossly over priced. 

[Jeff Simoneaux]

Seems to me they don't have a good reason for the price increase except for they hear how the prices of eggs in America have gone up so much. That was due to someone making a scare out of bird flu and destroying so many chickens. 

[renaissanc]

In my rural area, 30 medium-sized eggs cost 100 Baht still. The chicken farms give each chicken a personal fan to cool themselves down.

[Andrew65]

36 minutes ago, spidermike007 said:

I am back in the US and egg prices are now down to $6 to $7 a dozen, or 17 baht per egg. But, everything here is grossly over priced. 

About the same price as the UK. I just paid £4.50  for 12 XL eggs.

[Paul Henry]

Increasing egg prices is a scam.Since egg prices went through the roof in the US (yes bird flu and bad dease control) the prices in most countries have gone up considerable. Australia last week in the big super markets  $8-10 doz. Amonth ago you could buy depending on size between $5.50 and $7.50.

Don"t think the producers are making the money but I can guarantee the wholesalers and big retail chains are!

[hotchilli]

16 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

Thailand is grappling with rising egg prices, particularly impacting provinces such as Nakhon Ratchasima, Buri Ram, and Phitsanulok. This price surge is straining both consumers and businesses as they struggle with increased costs.

How many times have eggs gone up over the last year... ridiculous prices increases.

[JJ-Thailand]

I have been buying #2 egg for 25 years and presently pay 120 Baht for 30 pcs. I can't remember why I selected #2 and don't even know what it means but they taste good, and the price is okay.

[black tabby12345]

Egg price rise.

It didn't start recently.

In the past 15 years, it went up 50%.

Around 08, I remember it was 25B/for 10.

Now, even at the cheapest shop, it costs 35/for 10.

 

[Srikcir]

1 hour ago, JJ-Thailand said:

I have been buying #2 egg for 25 years and presently pay 120 Baht for 30 pcs. I can't remember why I selected #2 and don't even know what it means but they taste good, and the price is okay.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chicken_egg_sizes

[KhunLA]

Actually a very slight increase lately.   BUT,  down quite a bit from the high earlier this year.

 

Can't say the same about everything else.  Seems every week or so, something is up 10-20%

[Eaglekott]

6 hours ago, Gsxrnz said:

I'm all for the metric system, but buying eggs in packs of ten is just wrong. 

 

Im not sure what this has to do with the Metric system?  

The metric system is a decimal system of measurement based on the meter (length), kilogram (mass), and second (time).

[EVENKEEL]

4 hours ago, spidermike007 said:

I am back in the US and egg prices are now down to $6 to $7 a dozen, or 17 baht per egg. But, everything here is grossly over priced. 

I've been here for 5 weeks. West coast to east coast. Drove back to CA. NYC hotel was $400. Nt. I spent and I spent. Sitting in a lounge at SFO waiting for flight back. 

 

 

[sharot724]

4 hours ago, spidermike007 said:

I am back in the US and egg prices are now down to $6 to $7 a dozen, or 17 baht per egg. But, everything here is grossly over priced. 

Are both the groceries stores and restaraunts having the overpricing?

[jcmj]

Supply and demand. Just stop buying eggs. We ear too many as it is. 

[sharot724]

41 minutes ago, EVENKEEL said:

I've been here for 5 weeks. West coast to east coast. Drove back to CA. NYC hotel was $400. Nt. I spent and I spent. Sitting in a lounge at SFO waiting for flight back. 

 

 

That seems to be reminding me of my time Kawaii where the dollars flew

[KannikaP]

6 hours ago, KhunBENQ said:

Traditionely it was 12 (dozen) and multiples.

Who's tradition?

[KannikaP]

9 minutes ago, jcmj said:

Supply and demand. Just stop buying eggs. We ear too many as it is. 

I see the Heartbroken emoji is being used as Sarcastic here.

[KhunLA]

7 hours ago, Gsxrnz said:

I'm all for the metric system, but buying eggs in packs of ten is just wrong. 

Along with really stupid.   10 would last me & wife, 2 days, maybe.  Rack of 30 are considerably cheaper, without the need to go to the store again. 

 

If not driving an EV charged at home w/solar, the petrol would cost more than the eggs for some 

[PETERTHEEATER]

2 hours ago, Srikcir said:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chicken_egg_sizes

False. Elephants don't lay eggs, they are mammals.

[EVENKEEL]

39 minutes ago, KhunLA said:

Along with really stupid.   10 would last me & wife, 2 days, maybe.  Rack of 30 are considerably cheaper, without the need to go to the store again. 

 

If not driving an EV charged at home w/solar, the petrol would cost more than the eggs for some 

My 7 11 is a 30 second motorbike ride away. Love it.

[JensenZ]

4 hours ago, JJ-Thailand said:

I have been buying #2 egg for 25 years and presently pay 120 Baht for 30 pcs. I can't remember why I selected #2 and don't even know what it means but they taste good, and the price is okay.

I pay 135 for a tray of Betagro, but that's from the Betagro shop. They are more expensive in the supermarket. There's more to eggs than just size. I like eggs with strong shells that you can boil without breaking. A lot of eggs have very fragile shells, indicating poor laying hen health.

[JensenZ]

3 hours ago, Srikcir said:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chicken_egg_sizes

Akara has a "double 0" sized egg. They are monsters.

[KhunLA]

1 hour ago, EVENKEEL said:

My 7 11 is a 30 second motorbike ride away. Love it.

Agree, as is ours, tho a wee bit further.

 

I just figure if someone is dumb enough to buy 10 eggs at a time (if eating a couple a day), then probably dumb enough to make a special trip 5-10 kms away for 10 more 

 

And on the inflation thing, someone mentioned, 25 yrs ago, eggs were 3 for 5 baht, and now about 5 baht each.  So 3X the cost ... BUT ... minimum wage as kept up with most basic food items prices.  As was 100+/-,  25 yrs ago, and no 300-350 baht a day.

 

Imported crap, yea, much higher, but has nothing to do with TH.

[Jonathan Swift]

11 hours ago, Gsxrnz said:

I'm all for the metric system, but buying eggs in packs of ten is just wrong. 

They also sell 12 packs so as to not traumatize too many farang