Malaysia announces suspension of poultry exports to address domestic market shortages and price spike, a new food protection measure in Asia.
The country’s prime minister, Ismail Sambri Yaakob, said Monday that exports of about 3.6 million poultry per month would be cut off from June 1 until prices and supply stabilized amid rising food insecurity all over the planet.
The Southeast Asian country is the latest to cut food exports following a halt in wheat and palm oil exports from Indonesia in less than a month.
“The government is concerned about the problem of rising prices and the current poor supply of poultry that is hurting residents,” it said in a statement.
The small city-state of Singapore, which is heavily dependent on neighboring Malaysia for its food, immediately saw a threat to its supply.
About a third of its poultry imports Singapore came from Malaysia last year, according to the island’s food service.
The Singapore agency warned today of a “temporary break in the supply of frozen poultry”. “We urge consumers to buy only what they need,” he said in a statement.
Malaysia also exports poultry to Thailandin Japan and to Hong Kong.
Inflation reached 2.2% in March in Malaysia, with a more significant 4% rise in food prices.
Concerns about food security are growing around the world due to climate change and the Russian invasion of Ukraine. The World Bank warned this month that rising food prices were already having “catastrophic consequences for the poorest and most vulnerable.”
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