Pork, chicken and egg prices jump in Thailand despite price freeze pledge

Thai consumers are being squeezed by rising living costs, with fresh food prices climbing sharply, particularly for pork, chicken and eggs.

The increases come amid the conflict in the Middle East, which has driven up energy costs and disrupted global supply chains, in contradiction to the Commerce Ministry’s insistence that no controlled goods have been allowed to raise prices and that price controls remain in place.

Data from the Internal Trade Department showed clear signs of rising chicken prices. The price of chicken drumsticks, which were selling for 80 baht (S$3.15) to 85 baht per kg at the start of March, began rising from March 9 and has now reached 90 baht to 95 baht per kg.

The price of chicken thighs has also increased, from between 85 baht and 100 baht per kg to between 95 baht and 100 baht per kg.

The price of pork has risen even more sharply, with lean pork reaching as much as 165 baht per kg. In markets, lean pork has climbed from 145 baht to 150 baht per kg at the beginning of March to 150 baht to 165 baht as at March 20, marking an increase of five baht to 15 baht per kg.

Those figures are in line with data from the Office of Agricultural Economics, which showed that live pig prices at the farm level in Nakhon Pathom have risen from 56 baht to 62 baht per kg, an increase of six baht.

This suggests that higher costs at the farm level are being passed on to consumers.

The price of eggs has also risen. Size 3 eggs, which are among the most commonly consumed, rose on March 16 from 3.5 baht to 3.6 baht per egg to 3.7 baht to 3.8 baht, or an increase of 20 satang each, equivalent to 6 baht per tray.

However, small retail shops have already been selling eggs for more than 4 baht each, adding to the burden on households that rely on eggs as a daily staple.

“Although the Commerce Ministry has insisted that no controlled goods have been approved for price increases, figures from the Internal Trade Department and the Office of Agricultural Economics clearly paint a different picture,” a source said.

Consumers at several fresh markets said that the prices they are actually paying are higher than those announced by the authorities. They urged the relevant agencies to investigate and tackle the problem before the cost-of-living burden becomes unbearable for low-income households. THE NATION/ASIA NEWS NETWORK