Firms unveil main reasons behind egg crisis
‘Situation to stabilize starting from March’
KUWAIT CITY, Feb 18: Amid the continuing series of lack of eggs at the main sale points, cooperative societies and markets in the country; officials of major egg companies unveiled the main reasons behind the aggravation of this crisis, reports Al-Anba daily.
These officials expect gradual settlement of the crisis starting from March in view of the plan to increase their production of eggs and stability of situation owing to the decision of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry to stop the exportation of eggs.
In their statements to the daily, these officials cited various factors leading to the aggravation of the crisis such as unstable weather conditions in 2018, poultries in the biggest production companies are passing through a transitional phase, and exportation of eggs to Saudi Arabia which suffered from lack of eggs due to the avian flu outbreak.
Manager of Production Administration in Kuwait United Poultries Company Dr Mohammad Abu Mahfouz attributed the crisis to the avian flu outbreak in Saudi Arabia. He pointed out that big quantities of local eggs were withdrawn from the Kuwaiti market – the closest to Saudi Arabia; hence, the high demand for eggs.
Meanwhile, Director General of Taj Noor Company Wajeih Mahmoud Al-Ali – representative of Nayef, Afiya, Warah and Abu Ali Company – said the company submitted a clarification to the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Consumer Cooperative Societies Union and other concerned authorities stating reasons behind the lack of eggs, foremost of which is unstable weather.
While the crisis of shortage of eggs in main outlets continues to escalate and despite the decision taken by Ministry of Commerce and Industry to stop exporting eggs amid objections raised by some cooperative societies, reliable sources assured that the egg crisis will soon end, reports AlAnba daily.
They explained that the Union of Consumer Cooperative Societies, with the cooperation of Ministry of Social Affairs and Labor, asked suppliers of eggs in Turkey to discuss the possibility of exporting eggs to Kuwait.
The Imported Foods Department in Kuwait sent a letter to these suppliers with details of the required quantities, stressing that the price for importing should be in consideration of the selling price in various outlets in Kuwait, which should range from KD 1.050 to KD 1.100. The export process will begin immediately after reaching an agreement on the shipping method and completing other logistical processes.
Furthermore, the sources indicated that the trend of egg-producing companies to export eggs to neighboring countries had caused the sharp shortage of eggs in the country.
They stressed that the decision taken recently by Ministry of Commerce and Industry concerning the embargo on export of local and imported eggs for one month has obviously contributed to the retreat of manipulators from carrying out wrong practices