Customers continue to buy chicken despite higher prices, says stallholders
Singapore. Fresh chicken can now be bought again in wet market stalls, after Malaysia eased its export ban which started on 1 June. This move allowed black and kampung chickens to be brought once more to Singapore.
According to some stallholders who reopened to sell these specific types of chicken, they had to compensate by increasing the prices of Kampung chicken to S$33 per kilogram since suppliers also raised their prices.
“I had to raise prices because my suppliers also raised prices. How could I not?” shared Ms Tan, owner of Sin Heng Poultry Stall in an interview with CNA, adding that some customers complained about the chicken being expensive, but those who prefer fresh chicken are still buying it.
Last week, Sin Heng Poultry Stall closed after selling the last of its chilled chicken supply following Malaysia’s ban on exports. Upon reopening, Ms Tan sold 20 chickens a day.
Mr Ma, another stallholder, stated that one Kampung chicken’s price can go up to S$19.
“Because the chickens haven’t been arriving for two weeks, they had more time to grow, the chickens I received are much bigger than usual. It’s hard to sell them because customers run away after hearing that one chicken is S$18 or S$19,” shared Mr Ma in an interview with CNA, adding that if the chickens continue to get as big as the ones he’s currently getting, he may tell his supplier that he cannot sell them anymore.
Kampung chicken is mostly sold whole. Despite being more expensive than regular broiler chicken, regular customers still purchase it.
Upon the ease of Malaysia’s export ban, exports of poultry products like hotdogs and nuggets have also resumed. However, the ban on commercial broiler chicken is still imposed. These cover the larger birds that make up most of the chickens imported by Singapore from Malaysia.
As of press time, many stalls in wet markets are still closed temporarily.
“There’s too little product variety, that’s why the stall next door is still closed. We’re just selling whatever we can get, it’s just enough to get by,” said Mr Ma.
In the coming weeks, Singapore’s chicken supply is expected to become more stable since the country is expecting to receive chicken imports from different countries.
Image Sources: Pixabay.com
