Egg prices have risen sharply in Hyderabad over the past few weeks, pushing up retail rates across the city and adding to household food expenses. Retailers and poultry farm operators attribute the increase to lower production during the summer months and a mismatch between demand and supply.

Mohammed Kaleem, owner of Taj Chicken Centre in Yousufguda, said he was selling eggs at ₹7 a piece on June 20. “We are procuring eggs from farms at ₹6.50 each and even we have to make a margin, so we are selling them at ₹7. That 50 paise is also lost because of breakages, carry bags and other expenses. What we have been informed by poultry farms is that production is low, which is leading to the increase in prices,” he said.

Srinivas, who runs Sneha Chicken Centre outlet in Secunderabad, said the rise had been noticeable over the past week. He is currently selling a dozen eggs for ₹82, translating to about ₹6.80 per egg, while the procurement price from farms stands at ₹6.50. “I have not made any profit on this for the last week. We are being told that production has fallen because of the summer and that many birds have died due to the heat,” he said.

Data from the National Egg Coordination Committee (NECC) website shows a steady increase in wholesale egg prices during June in Hyderabad. The price remained at ₹5.55 per egg from June 1 to June 6, increased to ₹5.60 on June 7 and continued to climb gradually, reaching ₹6.35 per egg on June 20.

At a chicken centre in West Marredpally, proprietor Ramesh said customers had been questioning the frequent price hikes. According to him, consumption of eggs has increased with the onset of the rainy season, resulting in higher demand. “With the rains coming in, egg consumption has gone up. Demand has increased but supply has not kept pace, which is causing prices to rise,” he said.

A poultry farm operator said production levels remained low and warned that prices could rise further. He claimed that several small poultry farms had shut down in recent months, leaving only larger players in the market. “There is hardly any increase in production happening in poultry farms. Prices may rise even further. Many small farms closed down and only the bigger companies survived. They are now in a position to influence the market,” he said.