Thailand asks firms to cut egg exports after flood losses

Egg producers and farms asked to maintain farm-gate price at 4 baht per egg

Thailand ⁠has ⁠asked companies to cut egg ​exports by 30% to 50% until December 2026, with supplies ​hit by heavy flooding, which ‌killed a significant number of hens, a Commerce Ministry official said on Tuesday.

Flood-hit egg farms in the areas of Chachoengsao province, about two hours east of Bangkok, ​killed some ⁠3 million hens, said Jirawuth Suwanna-arj, deputy director-general of the Department of Internal Trade.

The department is urgently surveying unaffected areas to source eggs ‌for distribution to retailers. It is also working with other agencies to extend the lifespan of laying hens from 80 weeks to 85 weeks to maintain ⁠egg supplies, Mr Jirawuth said.

Since Sept 16, there has been flooding in 51 provinces, including Bangkok, with 31 people killed, according to the Interior Ministry.

Bangkok was declared a disaster-affected zone late last month after receiving 320 millimetres (12.6 ​inches) of rain over three days, as much as it typically receives in all of September.

The department ​has ‌asked the Egg Producers Association and major farms to maintain the farm-gate price at 4 baht (US$0.12) per egg, Mr Jirawuth added.

​He ⁠has also asked egg collectors to source eggs from unaffected areas and distribute them to retailers, ⁠while cooperating on maintaining prices.

Last year, Thailand exported 1.7 billion baht ($50.46 million) worth of eggs, mostly to Singapore, which accounted for 79% of the total, with Hong Kong ⁠receiving 9%, according to Agriculture and Cooperatives Ministry data.

From Oct ​9 to 13, Thailand's eastern and central regions, including Bangkok and its suburbs, as well as parts of the South, are expected to experience an increase in rainfall, with ‌heavy rain in ⁠some places, according to the ​Meteorological Department. 

The Finance Ministry estimated the floods will have an impact of less than 0.1% on the overall economy, maintaining its forecast of 2.0% to 2.5% gross domestic product (GDP) growth for 2026.

Disaster risks are becoming normalised and are another structural problem weighing on Thai economic growth over the longer term, requiring multiple measures to strengthen the country's economic resilience, according to Kasikorn Research Centre (K-Research).