Bangkok: Pichai Naripthaphan, the Minister of Commerce, has taken decisive action to regulate product prices in an effort to alleviate the financial burden on the public. He has mandated the Department of Internal Trade to collaborate with provincial commerce departments to closely supervise product pricing, aiming to reduce living costs and public expenses. Recent data indicates a decrease in the prices of chicken eggs and broiler chickens, while pig prices at the farm level have experienced a slight increase.
According to Thai News Agency, Mr. Pichai revealed that both the government and the Ministry of Commerce are committed to reducing the cost of living by ensuring that goods prices align with standardized benchmarks. He has instructed the Department of Internal Trade and provincial commerce offices to rigorously inspect and monitor goods prices throughout 2025, on a daily and weekly basis. Any instances of price hikes are to be promptly reported and addressed.
The Department of Internal Trade has dispatched officers to various locations, including fresh markets, department stores, and retail outlets, to inspect goods and services prices. The overall sales environment remains vibrant, adhering to market dynamics. The production and pricing of meat products, particularly chicken eggs, reflect a surplus due to favorable weather conditions from October 2024 to February 2025. Consequently, chicken egg production in March 2025 has surpassed consumption demands, stabilizing farm prices at 3.20 baht per egg and slightly reducing the retail price of size 3 chicken eggs to 3.71 baht per egg.
Broiler chicken production is projected to reach 2,072 million birds, yielding 3.56 million tons of meat, sufficient for domestic needs and exports. The current farm price for live chickens is between 40-41 baht per kilogram, with a slight decrease in the market price of chicken parts. The price of chicken legs with hip is now 79.90 baht per kilogram, while chicken breast with back is priced at 78.56 baht per kilogram.
In contrast, live pig prices at the farm have slightly risen to 78.50 baht per kilogram in March 2025, expected to remain stable due to a decreased pig population caused by hot weather conditions affecting growth rates. The 2025 production forecast anticipates 23.58 million pigs entering the market, marginally higher than the previous year, adequately meeting both domestic demands and export needs to neighboring countries like Laos and Burma.
Fresh vegetable prices remain stable, with some reductions due to an influx of produce fostered by favorable weather and water availability. The upcoming Songkran festival is anticipated to boost chicken and pork consumption, potentially leading to a slight increase in live pig and chicken part prices, while chicken eggs are expected to remain stable.
The Ministry of Commerce has also intervened in the bottled palm oil market, working with retail and wholesale partners to delay price adjustments, ensuring consumer affordability. Palm oil production has seasonally increased by 20-30%, with crude palm oil stocks rising by 10% between 3-5 March 2025, prompting a gradual decline in crude palm oil prices from February 2025.
Mr. Pichai emphasized ongoing surveillance of consumer goods prices, promoting economical product distribution to mitigate living costs. Mobile Blue Flag vehicles will offer essential goods at reasonable prices in 50 Bangkok communities daily, with similar events planned nationwide. The Department of Internal Trade will continue product inspections, with severe penalties for price gouging, hoarding, or refusal to sell. The public can report unfair practices via the Department of Internal Trade hotline 1569 or provincial commercial offices.
