Early Cost Pressures Emerge as Malaysia Keeps Food Prices Largely Stable
PETALING JAYA, April 29 — Malaysia’s food prices remain broadly stable, even as rising input and logistics costs begin to place pressure on the domestic supply chain, Economy Minister Akmal Nasrullah Mohd Nasir said.
He noted that while most prices are still within a controlled range, underlying cost factors are starting to signal potential stress across the food ecosystem.
Mixed Price Trends Across Key Food Items
Chicken prices increased by 3.3 per cent to RM9.70 per kilogramme, while Grade C eggs rose by 7.3 per cent to RM3.93 per 10 units.
At the same time, some commodities, including beef and Indian mackerel, recorded price declines, helping to moderate the overall trend.
Several fresh items such as vegetables and coconut milk also registered gradual increases.
Upstream Costs Driving Early Supply Chain Strain
Akmal said the trend reflects growing pressures at the upstream level, including higher costs for fertiliser, energy, raw materials and logistics.
“For the period from April 20 to 22, price movements remained within about 10 per cent, indicating stability at the retail level.
“However, upstream pressures are beginning to surface and must be closely monitored,” he said.
Comprehensive Monitoring Needed
He stressed that monitoring efforts must extend beyond retail prices to include production, transportation and distribution to ensure a more accurate assessment of cost pressures.
Most Households Shielded from Electricity Cost Adjustments
On energy-related costs, Akmal said about 85 per cent of domestic consumers will remain protected from electricity price adjustments.
Households consuming below 600 kilowatt-hours (kWh) per month will not be subject to the Automatic Fuel Adjustment mechanism.
Rising Generation Costs Pose Future Risk
Despite stable electricity supply, the cost of power generation is expected to increase due to rising global prices of coal and gas.
He cautioned that these pressures could eventually affect electricity tariffs if not carefully managed.
Efficiency Key to Long-Term Stability
The government is urging both consumers and industries to adopt energy-efficient practices to ease long-term pressure on the national energy system.
Akmal reaffirmed that efforts will continue to ensure price stability and minimise the financial impact on households and businesses.
-wilayah.com.my
