KUALA LUMPUR: Egg suppliers have assured that recent problems attributed to delivery issues involving the item following the Movement Control Order (MCO) has been resolved.
A report on Wednesday stated that there were difficulties in getting eggs in certain areas, coupled with high demand from consumers.
Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Ministry (KPDNHEP) enforcement director Datuk Iskandar Halim Sulaiman said the disruption in the supply chain was due to logistical issues such as roadblocks, especially in areas that are far from the location of egg producers.
He said producers had assured that there was sufficient supply of eggs after various issues had been ironed out.
Despite a surge in demand, Tony Low of Q Egg For You, a supplier based in Cheras, said he had no issues getting his fresh supply of eggs from farms in Seremban, Taiping and Klang.
Although admitting that he had problems getting the eggs during the first phase of MCO, he was nevertheless relieved that the issue had been resolved very quickly.
Low’s company distributes eggs to restaurants, cafes, caterers and hotels nationwide.
“So far I have no problem in getting my supplies direct from the farms. At the same time, my company has no problems in fulfilling our promise to deliver fresh eggs to our customers,” he told the New Straits Times.
Another supplier, TPC Plus Berhad, a company based in Melaka said it too did not face problems in terms of meeting the supply and demand of the market.
A representative from the company who only wanted to be known as Lim said they were constantly working closely with the relevant authorities such as KPDNHEP and the Department of Veterinary Services to ensure smooth supply of eggs.
For Lou from Cheras Daily Fresh Egg, whose company supplies eggs to customers in the Klang Valley, said his company was able to manage the increase in demand.
“There had been an increase in demand since MCO (was enforced) but we are managing it well. We have no problems in meeting our customers’ orders,” he said.
Hoh Chee Seng, a wholesaler based in Ampang, noticed there was an increase in egg consumption nationwide.
He said this could be because many households preferred to cook their meals at home during the MCO.
In the beginning, Hoh said there was a decrease in supply due to high demand of eggs following the MCO's implementation.
He said some of his loyal customers bought eggs by the trays as compared to their normal practise of buying 10 eggs which could last them a week or so.
“The farms couldn’t cope with the sudden high demand and when that happens, a lot of places such as markets will have lesser supply. But the problem has since been resolved,” he said, adding that his shops are getting a normal supply of eggs daily now.
Meanwhile, another Kajang based supplier took to Facebook to assure their customers that there were more than enough eggs to meet the demand.
In its posting, Hupp Seng Trading stated that there were eight big lorries delivering fresh eggs every day from the farm to their shop in Taman Kajang Baru.
In Sibu, The Borneo Post reported that there had been a 20 per cent increase in the demand for eggs in Sarawak. The daily also reported that egg shortage had never been an issue there, although suppliers in the state had to readjust the delivery time in order for the eggs to reach towns such as Bintulu, Miri, Mukah, Kapit and other smaller towns due to several factors such as roadblocks.