Egg prices hit record highs in India as feed costs squeeze poultry margins
Retail eggs are selling at ₹8.5-9 with ex-farm around ₹7 as feed inputs surge—maize up 35%, soybean meal up 64%, and amino acids 3.5x since March. Hyderabad ex-farm prices are up 15% MoM and 40% YoY. Relief may come from late July as Shravan softens northern demand.
What happened
NECC · Indian egg prices hit record highs, retailing ₹8.5-9, as poultry feed costs surge—maize up 35%, soybean meal 64% since March. Prices may ease from late
Key facts
- ex-farm egg ~₹7
- retail egg ₹8.5-9
- Hyderabad ex-farm +15% MoM, +40% YoY
- maize +35% since March
- soybean meal +64%
- amino acids 3.5x since March
- chicken ₹250-260/kg
Why this matters
Sustained feed-cost inflation and margin pressure across the poultry chain could accelerate consolidation opportunities among smaller, undercapitalized producers unable to weather the 40% YoY egg price surge.
What to watch
- Post-Shravan (Aug) ex-farm price prints in Hyderabad/Namakkal
- Kharif maize sowing and monsoon progress data
- Soybean meal export/import policy changes
- NECC daily egg rate movements
- Poultry flock culling or placement reduction reports
- Watch listed feed/poultry names (Venky's, Godrej Agrovet, IB Group) for margin guidance and placement cuts
- Track QSR and processed-food players passing egg/feed costs into menu pricing
- Monitor maize and soybean meal spot/futures for feed-cost relief triggers
- Assess amino-acid import dependence (China/lysine-methionine) for FX and supply risk