The Malaysian poultry industry has called on the government to lift the ban on chicken exports. Otherwise, they would lose the market in Singapore, stressing that the supply in the domestic market has stabilized.
The Federation of Livestock Farmers of Malaysia (FLFAM) said it is negotiating with the government to lift the export ban, which took effect June 1. Many farmers are pursuing the federation because they have ongoing contracts with customers in Singapore with whom they have had a relationship for many years.
Exports of up to 3.6 million chickens per month have been banned after supply and price problems in Malaysia. Some chicken traders are selling whole chickens above the price ceiling to cover costs. Increased production costs, infectious diseases and weather are just some of the factors affecting chicken farm operations.
In response to the export ban, Singapore, which imports about one-third of its chicken from Malaysia, has announced it will buy chicken from Indonesia. The Singapore Food Authority (SFA) said on June 30 that Indonesia has been added as a new source of chicken meat imports. The country is on the list of more than 20 countries approved to export chicken to Singapore.
Lau Ka Leng, secretary general of the Johor Poultry Breeders Association, told CNA that farmers fear losing customers from Singapore if the export ban is not lifted in time.
The breeders are coping with the situation, but there are fears that the animals will no longer enter the Singapore market once Indonesian exports begin.