Malaysia Is on the Hunt for an Egg Cartel

(Bloomberg) -- An almost 30 percent jump in egg prices in just one week has prompted a Malaysian government investigation into potential collusion.

The cost of a crate of 10 eggs in the administrative capital of Putrajaya climbed as high as 5.11 ringgit ($1.22) at the start of December, from 3.98 ringgit a week earlier, according to the Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Ministry. Average prices in Malaysia are currently about 4 ringgit for 10.

The ministry is looking across the supply chain to determine whether collusion or cartels artificially boosted prices, Minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said in response to questions from Bloomberg.

“If egg prices remain high or continue to rise, Malaysian consumers will be adversely affected,” Saifuddin said, adding eggs are also exported to places including Singapore, Hong Kong, the Maldives and Mauritius. “If egg prices continue to increase or remain high, we might examine whether it’s necessary to continue exporting eggs at the current volume.”

Malaysia’s egg supply fell about 3 percent in December after a few farms in the north of the country were investigated for avian flu, according to the Veterinary Services Department. Laboratory tests later revealed that those farms were free from the avian influenza virus, it said. A weaker currency has also made imported feed more expensive, according to the department.

The supply drop was likely caused by small farmers closing after being unable to cope with low prices coupled with the cost of chicken feed, said Jeffrey Ng, President of the Federation of Livestock Farmers’ Associations of Malaysia. Farmers have been selling below output costs for the past two years, he said.

The ministry will roll out controls to cap the price of eggs for five days during the Christmas holiday to protect consumers at a time of high demand, Saifuddin said. A ceiling price will be set after discussions between producers, the Ministry and Department of Veterinary Services.

To contact the reporter on this story: Anuradha Raghu in Kuala Lumpur at araghu3@bloomberg.net

To contact the editors responsible for this story: Anna Kitanaka at akitanaka@bloomberg.net, Andrew Hobbs, James Poole

©2018 Bloomberg L.P.