PATTAYA, Thailand – Rising pork and egg prices are beginning to put pressure on food vendors across Thailand, including Pattaya, where many restaurants and street food operators are trying to avoid passing the full cost on to customers despite shrinking profit margins. The latest increase in farm-gate prices has pushed up the cost of key ingredients used in many everyday meals. While most vendors are still keeping the prices of popular dishes unchanged, some have been forced to increase charges for menu items containing pork or eggs. A rice and curry vendor in Bangkok said egg prices have risen by around 10 baht per tray, while pork has increased by about 10 baht per kilogram. As a result, the shop has maintained its standard rice-and-curry dishes at 50 baht but raised the price of add-on fried or omelette eggs from 7 baht to 10 baht each.
The vendor noted that rising costs extend beyond meat and eggs, with cooking gas, vegetable oil and other ingredients also becoming more expensive. The trend is being closely watched in Pattaya, where restaurants, made-to-order food stalls and small eateries are facing similar cost pressures. Many operators are choosing to absorb higher expenses during the current low tourism season rather than risk losing customers by increasing menu prices.
Consumers are also feeling the impact. One Bangkok customer said it was not only rising prices that concerned him, but also shrinking portion sizes, noting that foods such as Chinese sausage were now served in smaller quantities. He said meals priced at 60 to 70 baht would become difficult for many households to afford and called on the government to introduce measures to reduce the cost of living while increasing the minimum wage in line with inflation.
Thailand’s Trade Policy and Strategy Office has forecast that prices for prepared meals could rise by 3 to 5 percent as higher production costs filter through the food supply chain. The National Swine Raisers Association of Thailand said the recommended farm-gate price for live pigs increased by 2 baht per kilogram from July 7, bringing prices closer to production costs. The association added that major producers are continuing to limit breeding stock to maintain market balance and support smaller farmers.
Meanwhile, the Department of Internal Trade has sought to reassure consumers over egg prices. Following a meeting with major producers, wholesalers and retailers after farm-gate egg prices increased from 3.60 baht to 3.80 baht per egg on July 6, officials said there are currently no plans for another price increase. Producers said improving weather conditions, lower expected animal feed costs as new corn harvests enter the market, and increasing egg production from young hens should help stabilize prices in the coming months. The Thai Egg Farmers Association expects feed costs to ease from August onward, supporting stable egg prices despite recent increases.
