Poultry eggs contain many nutrients beneficial for health and are referred to as a superfood. Foreign media have reported that egg prices in the US have surged to $4.95 per dozen, or VND10,600 per egg. The price has doubled compared to August 2023 and is the strongest increase since the influenza outbreak in the country in 2015.

Americans are also finding it difficult to buy eggs because of shortages. Supermarkets set restrictions on the numbers of eggs each customer can buy.

Meanwhile, eggs are abundant and available everywhere in Vietnam, from traditional markets to supermarkets to online shops.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) reported that the total poultry population increased to 575.1 million including both meat and laying chickens. Egg production rose by 5 percent to 20.2 billion.

The price of poultry eggs was stable last year. Chicken eggs are now priced at VND1,800-2,100 each, while duck eggs are VND2,200-2,808. 

Since the end of June 2024, the price of chicken eggs has slightly increased to VND2,100-2,150 each, while the price of duck eggs has decreased slightly. The prices fluctuated slightly in the last months of 2024.

MARD predicted that the poultry egg output would reach 21 billion this year, a peak so far.

Since the Tet holiday, poultry farms have had high egg inventories and have had to bargain away.

Eggs are now not only available at traditional markets, online shops and supermarkets, but also on pavements. Merchants are selling eggs at VND99,000-100,000 per set of 50 eggs.

A farm produce shop in Dong Da district in Hanoi, which specializes in selling fruit, has begun selling chicken eggs. As eggs are cheap, customers order large quantities.

Tran Van Manh, the owner of a farm with 10,000 chickens in Kinh Mon district in Hai Duong province, said egg prices have been unstable over the last few years. 

The prices reached VND2,800 per egg at times, but then dropped to VND1,000.

Currently, his family's farm raises 11,000 laying and breeder hens. However, due to the low egg prices, the farm is facing significant losses. The selling prices need to be VND1,500 per egg or higher to break even. Chicken prices have been VND1,300 per egg for a month and there is no sign of increase.

Manh said the days before and after Tet are always the time when egg prices bottom out.

“Eggs are now even cheaper than vegetables,” he said.

Tam An