Indonesia may export chickens to Singapore due to shortage

Indonesia is reportedly hoping to make Singapore agree to a deal so it can start exporting chickens to the country within a few weeks. This offer comes as SG is experiencing a shortage in chicken supply.

Singapore is said to be scrambling to find other sources that can supply chickens since Malaysia, which is its neighbor, has recently restricted exports and sales. According to Reuters, the chicken shortage is the latest in the series of global food crises where many main ingredients are running out.

Some of the reasons why this is happening include the disruptions in the supply chain, the war in Ukraine, extreme weather conditions, and slow production or no harvest at all. In the case of Singapore, it is currently having a shortage in chickens because Malaysia stopped exporting the said poultry this month.

Malaysia is working on increasing its local production and waiting for the costs to stabilize before it can resume the export of its products. Its move severely affected its neighboring Singapore, especially the restaurant and street stall owners. These business owners have already increased their prices, but many of their menus with chicken are missing.

Indonesia's Coordinating Ministry of Economic Affairs' senior official, Susiwijono Moegiarso, revealed that the authorities already held "technical discussions" with Singapore and they are looking forward to a positive response and allow them to start the exports this month.

The Singapore Food Agency (SFA) released a statement confirming that it is working closely with Indonesian officials with regard to the accreditation of the country to become one of its chicken importers.

"Hopefully within the next two weeks there would be a realization, if we have to wait for months we will miss the momentum," Reuters quoted Achmad Dawami, the head of the Indonesian Poultry Breeders' Association, as saying.

In any case, Indonesia is the most populated country in Southeast Asia, and with its 270 million citizens, it has a huge surplus in chicken production. It was reported that it is able to produce 55 to 60 million chickens per week, and these figures show a surplus of about 15% to 20% after local consumption.