Hong Kong to import Thai eggs
EGGS from Thailand will once again be exported to Hong Kong after many years on the banned list due to bird-flu outbreaks.
Commerce Minister Apiradi Tantraporn said the new opportunity would not cause a problem of oversupply of Thai eggs and the price should remain stable in the long run.
The new import allowance measure by Hong Kong is set to become effective for Thailand and 15 other countries on December 5.
Apiradi said Thai eggs have stolen a march on key rivals such as China, Japan, Malaysia and the Ukraine, which have not yet received approval to export eggs to Hong Kong. The city state still forbids the import of eggs from 12 countries that have not passed sanitary standard inspections. Thai eggs should also be able to scramble for a competitive edge over the US and the European Union because of the closer distance and cheaper logistic costs.
To ensure market penetration, Thailand will implement stringent food checking standards in accordance with Hong Kong’s regulations and requirements.
During the past three years, egg imports to Hong Kong were up an average of 10 per cent a year. Last year, egg imports to Hong Kong were valued at US$185.09 million, up by 9.4 per cent year-on-year. In the first nine months of the year, egg imports to Hong Kong rose 1.1 per cent to $29.37 million. The main egg suppliers to Hong Kong are China with $80.31 million in egg exports, followed by the US with $47.86 million.
