The average farm-gate price of broiler declined by almost 9 percent in mid-August, as chicken supply outpaced demand, according to local growers belonging to the United Broiler Raisers Association (Ubra).
According to the results of a weekly price monitoring by Ubra, the average quotation for off-sized broiler as of August 17 was at P93 per kilogram. The figure was 5.1 percent lower than the P98 per kg average farm-gate price observed in August 10.
The farm-gate price of regular-sized broiler fell by 6.23 percent to P92.67 per kg, from the previous week’s P98.83 per kg.
Prime-sized chicken were sold at P94.12 per kg, 8.68 percent lower than the quotation of P103.07 per kg recorded on August 10.
All three broiler sizes could be sold in wet markets, according to Ubra President Elias Jose Inciong.
Broiler prices are usually quite high during the July-to-September period due to the so-called third-quarter syndrome—a combination of factors that leads to lower production due to extreme weather conditions, according to Inciong.
“Based on our records, our expectation is that prices would start to collapse in late-August until October,” Inciong said in an earlier interview with the BusinessMirror.
According to the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), the poultry subsector recorded a 4.87-percent hike in gross earnings in the second quarter, which amounted to P58.1 billion at current prices.
In a report, the PSA said the 5.76-percent growth in the gross value of chicken production was due to higher prices and improvement in production level.
“The poultry subsector, which contributed 16.83 percent to total agricultural output, grew by 5.14 percent during the quarter. Expansion of broiler farm capacity, resumption of farm operations, the improvement of farm facilities and opening of new commercial broiler farms in Central Luzon, Calabarzon, Zamboanga Peninsula and Soccsksargen contributed to the 4.47-percent increase in chicken production,” the PSA said.
The PSA also said there was a 7.94-percent hike in chicken-egg production. The agency attributed this to “better egg-laying efficiency” and expansion of layer commercial farms in the Cordillera Administrative Region, Ilocos region, Central Luzon, Calabarzon, Bicol region, Western Visayas, Central Visayas, Eastern Visayas and Zamboanga Peninsula.