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Malaysia egg shortage leaves importer Singapore scrambling for alternatives

SINGAPORE: The Republic has a “wide range of alternative sources” for eggs, the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority of Singapore (AVA) said in response to a possible curtailing of supply from Malaysia.

The alternative sources for eggs, including local farms, are in line with its overall food diversification strategy, the AVA added.

Earlier in the week, Malaysian Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said that the country may limit or stop the export of eggs to ensure sufficient supply for its domestic market.

Malaysia is Singapore’s largest supplier of eggs and, according to AVA, the Republic’s importers are “still getting their usual egg supplies from Malaysia”.

Last year, Singapore imported 73 per cent of its eggs from Malaysia, and less than 1 per cent from accredited farms in Thailand, Japan, Australia and New Zealand.

Local farms produce the rest of the eggs, AVA said.

On Monday, Saifuddin said that egg prices in Malaysia have been increasing every week for the past months, and his ministry has received numerous complaints.

He added that an investigation will be carried out to check if there are elements of cartel activities. Separately, his ministry will also hold talks with the Malaysian Competition Commission and the Veterinary Services Department to solve the issue.

About 40 per cent of the eggs sold at NTUC FairPrice come from Malaysia, and prices have increased by 5 per cent in the last week, Channel NewsAsia reported on Thursday.

The supermarket chain added that it “practises diversified sourcing” to ensure a stable supply.

Another supermarket chain, Sheng Siong, also told Channel NewsAsia that while over half its egg supply is from Malaysia, its supplier may consider sourcing eggs from Thailand instead.

Source: NST