BENGALURU: Egg prices set a new high in Bengaluru, with one egg being sold in the retail market for Rs 8. Experts from the industry attributed the hike to multiple factors including export of eggs, dip in production, the onset of winter season when eggs are consumed most, the Christmas season and the approaching new year, when there is bulk demand for eggs from bakers. They said the prices are likely to come down by mid-January.
Karnataka Poultry Traders Association president K N Nagaraju said the demand for eggs is high as Bengaluru consumes a whopping 1.1 crore eggs per day. “During the winter season, people consume more eggs.
Dishes like omelettes, egg fried rice and egg bhurjis are more in demand now. Also, due to the upcoming Christmas and New Year, bakeries in the city are preparing cakes and other items in advance and are buying eggs in huge quantities, adding to the increase in demand.”
According to National Egg Co-ordination Committee (NECC) Bengaluru zonal chairman Venkateshwarulu T, the farm price for an egg on December 10 was Rs 6.75, which was an all-time high.
“The previous high was Rs 6.30 for one egg. The majority of Bengaluru’s egg supply comes from Namakkal district in Tamil Nadu, and the remaining reach0the city from rural areas adjoining the city, Davangere, Hospete and Challakere. As there is a high demand for eggs abroad, including Dubai, more are being exported now,” Venkateshwarulu said.
“Last year, many egg-producing birds were culled, which has reduced the output, leading to a gap in the steady supply. Also, during the winter season, there is a drop in production due to weather variations,” Nagaraju said.
“In November, 100 eggs were sold for Rs 625 in the wholesale market, which was around Rs 565 in October and September,” he said. “In the wholesale egg market, the price of 100 eggs on December 10 was Rs 6.80 a unit. In the retail market, one egg was sold from Rs 7.5 to 8, with a dozen eggs priced at Rs 90 to 96.”
Both Venkateshwarulu and Nagaraj stated that the high egg prices would continue till mid-January, when the demand would have eased.