The government is considering permitting increased egg imports to bolster supply and stabilise market prices. Approximately 20 traders have applied for permission to import millions of eggs from abroad, with the Ministry of Commerce currently reviewing these requests.
The traders recently requested the ministry to allow more egg import and each trader is seeking permission to import varying quantities of eggs, ranging from a minimum of 10 million to 200 million eggs, a top-ranking official of the ministry told The Business Post.
While some traders hope to contribute to the domestic supply, poultry industry experts argue that the country’s annual demand can be met through domestic production.
During a recent hearing, local poultry farmers expressed concerns about the potential negative impact of increased egg imports on the domestic industry branding the move as suicidal.
They suggested addressing firm-level issues, especially the reduction of raw material costs for feed, rather than relying on imports and called for taking a long-term policy to solve the supply shortage.
The government had previously granted permission to ten companies to import up to 100 million eggs to help control local market prices. The egg market had experienced volatility, with prices reaching as high as Tk 15 each. The government subsequently set the price of an egg at Tk 12.
In the fiscal year 2021-22, the country’s annual egg production surpassed the set annual target of 22.66 billion pieces, reaching 23.35 billion pieces, although it may fall short of the 23.15 billion egg production target for the last fiscal year due to the closure of some poultry firms, according to the Department of Livestock.
Currently, the country’s annual per capita egg consumption stands at 136 pieces, with the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) recommending a minimum of 104 eggs per person annually.
Bangladesh produces around 40 million eggs daily, with 9-12 per cent originating from large poultry firms and the remainder from small entrepreneurs in rural areas.
