Chicken price crashes but egg pinches pockets this monsoon
Times of India | 13 July 2025
Kolkata: In an unusual turn of trends this monsoon, egg prices shot up, while chicken prices dropped significantly across Kolkata and its fringes. This reversal in the cost of two of the most consumed protein sources left both consumers and poultry traders surprised.
According to wholesale traders, egg prices rose to Rs8 per piece a week ago—among the highest in recent months—before settling slightly at around Rs7.50 per piece. In contrast, chicken prices, which usually remain high during this season, slumped to Rs140–Rs160 per kg in suburban areas and Rs180–Rs190 in city markets like Gariahat and Lake Market. In some localities, deskinned chicken is now available at Rs130–Rs140 per kg, a steep fall compared to last month.
Industry insiders point to a combination of weather extremes, religious trends, and supply chain fluctuations behind the price shift. "Egg prices usually go up in the monsoon due to increased demand. But this year, the spike was sharper due to extreme heat in egg-producing districts like Nadia and Murshidabad, which led to a drop in egg-laying, coupled with rising feed costs," said Hafizul Rehman, a major layer farm owner in Nadia. He also attributed part of the volatility to the recent bird flu scare, which discouraged many farmers from continuing chicken production and led to reduced egg supply.
On the other hand, the monsoon months of Ashar and Shravan—observed in large parts of Bengal, Bihar, Odisha, and Assam—typically see a drop in meat consumption due to religious observances, said Madan Maity, general secretary of the West Bengal Poultry Federation. This seasonal slump in demand, coupled with the dumping of chicken from neighbouring states, led to supply exceeding demand, pushing prices further down.
"Earlier, we used to avoid chicken because of cost. Now, it's so affordable that we're eating it for breakfast, lunch, and dinner," chuckled Gobindo Basak, an insurance agent from Sarsuna. Live chicken is now selling at Rs130 per kg, almost Rs80–Rs90 cheaper than pre-monsoon levels. According to a senior poultry federation official, "The religious abstention from meat during Shravan and the lingering impact of the bird flu rumours impacted consumer confidence.
"Interestingly, the urban-rural price divide is more pronounced this time. While high-end city markets touched Rs200–Rs220 per kg for premium cuts a few weeks ago, prices have since dropped, especially in outer districts where chicken is available at Rs140–Rs150. As supply chains remain unpredictable and consumption patterns shift with seasonal and cultural cycles, poultry stakeholders are bracing for continued price swings in the coming weeks. The threshold weight for chicken is 1.5 kg. There is a subtle balance between chicken feed and price. If the chicken weighs more, its consumption increases, nullifying profitability.