Chicken prices edge up
Chicken prices edge up
Hikes in the prices of live chickens have driven up chicken meat prices, following the recent pork price upsurge.
The price of white-feathered chickens has risen strongly at farms, from VND14,000-VND15,000 per kilogram two months ago to VND24,000-VND42,000 per kilogram, while free-range chickens are priced at VND60,000 per kilogram, up from VND38,000.
Tam Hoang chickens sell for VND38,000-VND40,000 per kilogram, whereas hybrid chickens are sold at VND39,000-VND43,000 per kilogram. Chicken farmers can earn high profits thanks to the higher prices of chickens.
Minh Phuong, owner of a chicken farm in Dong Nai Province, said that some weeks ago, he had suffered losses due to the low price of chickens. However, the prices of live chickens have now edged up.
Nguyen Van Ngoc, vice president of the Southeastern Livestock Association, attributed the rising chicken prices to the pork price upsurge. Customers have consumed chicken as an alternative to pork, driving up the price of chicken, even as chicken supplies decline, he noted.
Due to prolonged heavy losses, many farms have reduced their stocks of chickens, rushing to sell live chickens to minimize these losses, resulting in the rise in chicken prices, Ngoc said.
At many wet markets in HCMC, including Pham Van Hai, Nguyen Van Troi and Ban Co, chicken prices inched up by some VND15,000 per kilogram on average versus last month.
Several customers have voiced concern over the potential increase in expenses due to the price surge of not only pork but also chicken.
Ly, residing in District 12, HCMC, pointed out that the lowest price of pork is now some VND110,000 per kilogram. As pork prices have surged, she has switched to consuming more chicken and fish. However, chicken prices are now on the rise, she said.
Besides this, the price hike has put many firms and food processors at a disadvantage.
Ngoc Tien, owner of a food processing firm in HCMC, said that the meat market is volatile because of the price increase, affecting his firm’s business plans for the weeks leading up to the end of the year.
However, the representative of the Southeastern Livestock Association said that the supply of chickens and chicken prices will soon stabilize, as it takes less time to raise chickens than pigs.
