Wholesale egg prices continued to rule static this week with the National Egg Coordination Committee (NECC), Namakkal Zone, retaining the same Rs 3.65 a piece level at its meeting held on Thursday.
The price of an egg touched a new high of Rs 3.65 last week on account of output cut and monsoon rains lashing North India. But this week, there was a slowdown in consumption in Karnataka and Maharashtra on account of Vinayaka Chaturthi and the onset of Purattasi month. Karnataka and Maharashtra are the major markets for Tamil Nadu’s shell egg and broiler trade.
An NECC spokesperson said that poultry products could see a bearish trend that is likely to continue till Diwali.
“Layer rates remain unchanged as our main consumers - Karnataka, Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh - observe Purattasi, the period of abstinence, soon to be followed by Dasara. We expect a rise in offtake and prices to perk up only in end-October.”
The industry usually experiences a temporary lull during the August-October period due to the austere months.
NECC has maintained the rates for layer birds at Rs 49/kg price band for the past six days.
The Palladam-based Broiler Coordination Committee has fixed the prices of live chicken at Rs 64/kg throughout this week.
Namakkal and Palladam are the benchmark of poultry prices in the country.