Hyderabad, Sept 2 (Maxim News): Egg prices have surged across India, adding pressure on household food budgets. According to the source, prices have risen by 35% to 40% from last year.
Farm gate prices have reached about ₹7 per egg. Meanwhile, retail prices have climbed to ₹8.50 to ₹9 per egg in many markets.
The sharp rise has increased costs for poultry farmers. Feed accounts for about 65% to 70% of poultry production costs. Moreover, corn forms nearly 55% to 65% of poultry feed.
The source links the higher corn demand partly to India’s E20 ethanol policy. The policy targets blending 20% ethanol with petrol. As a result, the government has encouraged grain based ethanol production.
Corn and broken rice have moved in large quantities to ethanol distilleries. This shift has affected corn availability for other users, including the poultry sector.
Egg prices face fresh pressure from corn shortage
Corn prices have risen sharply in recent years, according to the source. The price stood at about ₹14,000 per tonne three years ago. It has now reached around ₹26,000 per tonne.
Consequently, poultry producers face higher feed expenses. Reduced corn availability in open markets has added to that pressure.
India also needs additional corn supplies to meet rising demand, the source says. It cites an estimate of about 10 lakh tonnes of additional corn imports.
Previously, India exported corn to countries such as Bangladesh and Vietnam. However, growing ethanol demand has changed the supply balance.
Therefore, poultry farmers have raised egg prices to manage higher production costs. The increase affects consumers because eggs form a regular part of many Indian breakfasts.
The price pressure could also affect food businesses that use eggs in breakfast dishes and other products. For households, the increase adds to existing food expenses.
Experts cited in the source have warned that prices could rise further during the coming winter. They say the pressure may continue if alternative feed or ethanol production options do not emerge.
However, egg prices also depend on poultry output, seasonal demand and feed availability. Therefore, the final market trend will depend on how these factors change in the coming months.
For now, the rise in corn costs remains a major concern for poultry producers. Higher feed expenses are pushing up the cost of producing eggs and increasing retail prices. (Maxim News)
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