business 🥚 Egg prices surging; ethanol production is the cause
Egg prices have jumped by 35-40% across India over the last year, with retail costs between ₹8.50 and ₹9. This rise is linked to maize diversion for ethanol production, which is currently using about 37% of India’s maize output. Poultry feed costs are soaring because maize, their biggest expense, is in high demand by distilleries. Higher demand is expected to push prices even up as winter's increased consumption starts. This intense competition for maize is heavily pressuring poultry farmers' margins.