Pune: Price of eggs in the city has surged over the past month, driven by a combination of escalating poultry feed costs, tightened supply, and monsoon-related logistics hurdles.The primary ingredients for chicken feed—maize and soybean meal—have seen price hikes of nearly 50-60%, significantly raising production costs for poultry farmers. Additionally, heavy rains have hampered transportation and distribution across the region, according to local distributors.Consumers are already feeling the financial strain. “We buy branded eggs, and they are now costing Rs 10 per piece. It is becoming very expensive,” said Chinmay Sankhare, a resident of Wanowrie.Small business owners are also struggling. “The price of eggs has been rising steadily for a month. We use nearly 30 eggs a day for our baking, and we are desperately waiting for prices to stabilise. It’s not just eggs; the costs of other baking ingredients have also skyrocketed,” said Sarvangi Patel, a home baker.In the wholesale market, prices have climbed from Rs 7.20 per piece on July 1 to Rs 7.80 on July 20. In retail markets, consumers are paying approximately Rs 8.50 per egg.Jay Matele, a wholesaler at Ajit Eggs Suppliers, said despite the higher costs, the demand remains steady. “The surge is driven by a lack of supply from poultry farms and increased transport costs. Even with the price rise, demand hasn’t dropped,” Matele said.Industry experts attributed the supply crunch to seasonal factors. “The mortality rate at poultry farms is typically high during the summer, which is why the current supply is so low,” said Omar Sheikh of S K Egg Dealers in Kondhwa. “The escalating cost of feed, particularly soybean meal which has jumped 30-40% in recent months, is adding further pressure.”Logistics also play a major role in the local market’s pricing. A supplier at Ganesh Peth pointed out that Pune relies heavily on egg imports from Telangana. “Higher transport costs have added to the final price. However, we expect some relief soon. Demand typically reduces during the festive season as many people shift to vegetarian diets, so prices will likely cool down in a few weeks.”
