PH eyes chicken egg exports to Singapore

DUE to stable local production, Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel

is capable enough to supply Singapore with much- needed chicken eggs.

Singapore’s traditional supplier is Malaysia. Eggs imported from Malaysia make up nearly three quarters of Singaporeans’ egg consumption.

But earlier this week, Malaysia’s Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs announced the country was looking into limiting or stopping the export of eggs to secure ample supply for domestic demands.

However, Singapore’s Agri-Food & Veterinary Authority (AVA) in a Thursday statement said it had a

for eggs. One of these is the Philippines, Piñol said.

“I have already directed our International Affairs Division [ of the Department of Agriculture] to set a meeting between me and the Singapore Ambassador to the Philippines next week or at least before the end of the

on Friday.

He said egg exporting would serve as a window of opportunity for Filipino egg producers who have been complaining of low egg prices and oversupply.

Data from the Philippine Statistics Authority ( PSA) said the country’s chicken egg production in the third quarter of the year jumped 9.94 percent to 133.72 thousand metric tons ( TMT) from 121.63 TMT a year ago.

Top chicken egg producers during the July- September period were Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon), Central Luzon and Central Visayas, which accounted more than half of the volume of the total chicken egg production.

However, the average farmgate price of chicken eggs was pegged at P4.43 per piece, a 3.84- decline from the average price in 2017.

Piñol said that during the planned meeting with Singaporean ambassador to the Philippines Kok Li Peng, he would also discuss an aborted plan to export pork and other agricultural products such as vegetables from Bukidnon and dressed chicken.