Hyderabad egg prices surge, retail rates touch Rs 96 per dozen

Hyderabad: Egg prices in Hyderabad have witnessed a steep rise in the past few days after holding steady for almost three months, adding to the financial burden on consumers amid an increase in the cost of essential commodities.

The wholesale price, which hovered around Rs 80 per dozen since the first week of August, climbed to Rs 90 four to five days ago and has now reached Rs 96. The Rs 16 increase within a short span has also pushed retail prices from Rs 6–7 to Rs 7.50–8 per egg.

Traders attribute the increase to tight supplies, lower production and a decline in the number of birds in poultry farms. Reports of bird deaths and reduced productivity have affected the availability of eggs in the market, while poultry farmers are also facing higher production costs due to an increase in the prices of feed and other inputs.

Supply down, say retailers

K. Satyanarayana, an egg retailer in Meerpet, said the market was witnessing a shortage of supply against steady demand. “The supply has reduced considerably, and arrivals are not sufficient to meet the demand. This has pushed up wholesale prices, forcing retailers to increase selling prices,” he said.

Mukheed Uddin, a retailer in Bahadurpura, said the increase was being felt across the retail market. He said traders were finding it difficult to maintain earlier prices as procurement costs had gone up.

Poultry farmers, meanwhile, point out that the rising cost of poultry feed has added to their financial burden. Higher expenditure on maintaining birds, coupled with lower productivity and bird mortality, has affected overall egg production.

Egg prices had declined to Rs 80 per dozen in the first week of August and remained stable until recently.

Meanwhile, prices of other essentials, including rice and vegetables, have also increased. Fine rice, which was selling at Rs 5,600–6,400 per quintal a month ago, now costs Rs 6,600–8,000 per quintal, adding to the pressure on household budgets.

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