Traders Talk To Zulhas About High Egg Prices At Tambun Bekasi Market

Minister of Trade Zulhas (Photo: dock. Ministry of Trade)

JAKARTA - One of the traders named Aan (33) said that the price of eggs at Tambun Market, Bekasi Regency, West Java, is still quite high today.

He expressed this after the Minister of Trade (Mendag) Zulkifli Hasan alias Zulhas visited his place of sale today.

"(The price of eggs) is IDR 33,000, yes, we sell it in the market. That's the highest price as long as we sell eggs," Aan told reporters, Saturday, March 23.

Aan did not deny that the price of eggs had indeed increased since before entering Ramadan this year. "Actually (the price of eggs) has gone up before fasting," he said.

According to him, this price jumped very high compared to the momentum of Ramadan and Eid in 2023, at which time the price of eggs fell in the range of Rp. 27,000-Rp. 28,000.

"Last year's Eid was only Rp. 27,000-Rp. 28,000, because the price was pressed continuously," said Aan.

He also admitted that he was surprised about the current high price of eggs. In fact, the level of consumption of eggs itself has decreased.

"In the past, the price of eggs, right, we see that the market is busy, the price will definitely go up, the market is quiet, the price will go down. Usually, it's like that. Now consumption has dropped, prices are still going up," he said while laughing.

Furthermore, Aan also complained about his income which began to decline since the soaring price of eggs. "Yes, thank God it's going down," he added while laughing again.

Even so, Aan ensures that the stock of eggs he has is in sufficient condition to date. "Our spending stock, really, is safe. Thank God (stok) is safe," he said.

Responding to this, Trade Minister Zulhas also admitted that the price of eggs in a number of markets was still high, reaching Rp. 32,000. "The route is still Rp. 32,000," he said.

According to Zulhas, the reason for the high price of eggs in the market, especially in the DKI Jakarta area and its surroundings is because these commodities are supplied from outside. Thus, the spike in egg prices is unavoidable.

"Of course (the price of eggs) in places (others) is different. However, the price of eggs in Jakarta is more expensive because of the supply from outside," he added.