Egg prices up 5% due to supply shortfall from Malaysia.

A drop in egg supply from Malaysia has resulted in more expensive eggs here.Prices of fresh eggs have risen by about 5 per cent after two farms in Malaysia were suspended for health reasons.

According to media reports, several supermarket chains as well as wet market stalls raised prices. earlier this week.

Fresh eggs at FairPrice supermarket are now $1.75 and $5 a pack, up from $1.65 and $4.70, while Prime Supermarket will follow suit and raise prices by five and 10 cents on Friday.

According to the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority, eggs from the two Malaysian farms, which provided less than 6 per cent of Singapore's supply of 1.68 billion eggs last year, were found to have Salmonella enteritidis - a bacteria which causes food poisoning. They were suspended in in March and last month from exporting eggs to Singapore.

Apart from the fall in supply, importers said higher costs also contributed to the hike. Malaysian suppliers are facing increasing costs such as higher wages for drivers and Causeway toll charges.