Internal Trade Department Holds Urgent Discussion with Livestock and Meat Traders on Pork, Chicken, and Eggs as Heat Wave Slows Animal Growth and Reduces Quality
Thailand's Internal Trade Department met with livestock producers and major food corporations to address heat-wave impacts on pork, chicken, and egg production, with slower animal growth reducing product quality even as prices remain relati
On April 24, 2025, Jirawuth Suwannarat, Deputy Director-General of the Internal Trade Department, revealed that the department held discussions with agricultural organizations representing pork, broiler chicken, and egg-laying chicken farmers, including the National Pork Producers Association, Broiler Chicken Farmers Association, Broiler Chicken Producers and Exporters Association, Layer Chicken Farmers Association, Southern Layer Chicken Association, Central Small-scale Layer Chicken Trading Association, Chicken Egg Producers, Traders and Exporters Association, and layer chicken farmer cooperatives from Chachoengsao, the Mae Nam region, and Chiang Mai-Lamphun, as well as major corporations including CP Foods, Betagro, Thai Foods, Siam Farm, Cargill Meats, Akra Group, VCF Group, and SPM. The meeting aimed to monitor production and trade of pork, chicken, and eggs while discussing price management strategies that balance fairness for producers without burdening consumers under current conditions.
Monitoring has shown that the current hot weather continues to negatively impact animal growth. Although products continue to flow to market, reduced feed consumption by animals has resulted in slower-than-normal growth and products that fail to meet original standards.
Current market conditions following the Songkran period show slowing trade due to reduced consumer demand. Prices for eggs and pork remain stable, while broiler chicken shows a downward pricing trend as market supply increases.
Jirawuth stated that consumer assistance measures include distributing affordable consumer goods through the "Blue Flag affordable price" program throughout Bangkok, its surrounding areas, and all regions to help ease living cost burdens. The department will closely monitor consumer goods availability and continue consulting with agricultural organizations and business operators to ensure fairness for all sectors and implement appropriate price management strategies that do not burden farmers or consumers.
However, if traders are found selling pork, chicken, or eggs at excessively high prices, complaints can be filed to the hotline 1569. Under Section 29 of the Goods and Services Price Act 2542 BE, selling above fair price carries penalties of up to 140,000 baht in fines or imprisonment up to 7 years or both.
Kiattipoom Prueksawan, representative of the National Pork Producers Association, stated that live pig farm-gate prices currently stand at 68-70 baht per kilogram, remaining stable since before Songkran, with prices closely aligned to current production costs of approximately 70 baht per kilogram.
Despite increased consumer demand during the Songkran festival, Middle East tensions have slowed trade and consumption. It is expected that prices will remain stable, and the association requests government oversight of pig purchases to ensure fairness and prevent farmers from being exploited by middlemen.
Somboon Watcharapongphand, Chairman of the Broiler Chicken Farmers Association, stated that production volumes are now returning to normal levels and continuously entering the market after production capacity was increased to compensate for losses from the previous hot weather period.
Although consumer demand increased during Songkran, it is now declining, resulting in current prices close to production costs with prices expected to stabilize or decrease slightly.
