Broiler chicken prices climb above government benchmarks

Broiler chicken prices in several parts of Indonesia have risen as Ramadan 1447 Hijri approaches, with some traditional markets reporting figures above the government’s Reference Purchase Price and Highest Retail Price of US$2.25 per kilogram.

At Serpong Traditional Market, chicken is now selling for US$2.84 per kg. Traders say the increase began last weekend, with prices jumping between US$0.30 and US$2,000 within days. Based on patterns seen in previous years, sellers expect further rises of around US$0.12 every two days, which could push prices to US$2.96per kg if demand continues to strengthen.

In Medan, North Sumatra, broiler chicken is being sold for between US$42,000 and US$45,000 per kg. Economic observer Gunawan Benjamin linked the rise to stronger demand ahead of Ramadan, while supply growth has remained limited.

"Many people are complaining about the price of broiler chicken, which has reached Rp 45,000 per kg. However, in several traditional markets in Medan, prices still vary between Rp 42,000 and Rp 45,000 per kg," Gunawan said.

He noted that supply in the week before Ramadan increased by less than 12 percent compared with the previous week, while demand rose at a faster pace.

In Surabaya, monitoring at Dukuh Kupang Market on February 17, 2026 showed chicken priced at US$42,000  to US$43,000 per kg, slightly above the set retail ceiling. Nationally, data from the National Food Agency recorded the average price at US$40,572 per kg on February 15, 2026, a marginal daily decline.

Trade Minister Budi Santoso stressed that the government is tracking developments closely. "So, that doesn't mean the national average is Rp 45,000 per kg. However, we are still monitoring high prices in some markets. This could be due to insufficient supply or increased demand. We are ensuring prices remain under control and within the benchmark," Budi said.

Head of the National Food Agency, Andi Amran Sulaiman, added that President Prabowo Subianto is directly monitoring food prices. "On several occasions, the President even asked about the development of meat and chicken prices several times a day," said Amran.

Chicken prices remain stable in Polewali Mandar as ramadan begins.

As Ramadan gets under way, residents of Polewali Mandar Regency in West Sulawesi can expect steady chicken prices despite earlier concerns about increases.

Local authorities say the situation remains under control and supplies are more than adequate to meet seasonal demand.

Fitriani, Head of the Food Security Division at the Marine and Fisheries Office of Polewali Mandar, confirmed that recent price rises are still within acceptable limits. “There has been an increase, but it is still reasonable and below the Government Reference Price (HAP) set by the government,” she said.

Alongside the Industry and Trade Office and officers from the Criminal Investigation Agency of the Indonesian National Police, she inspected Pasar Sentral Pekkabata to assess the market situation. According to Fitriani, live chickens are currently selling for around Rp70,000 per bird, with an average weight of 2.5 kilograms.

“The current market price per bird is Rp70,000, with an average weight of 2.5 kilograms. That means the price per kilogram is only around Rp28,000. This is not far from the government’s HAP of Rp25,000 per kilogram for live chickens at the producer or farmer level,” she explained.

She added that supplies in Polewali Mandar are secure, with traders holding up to twice their usual stock. The modest price rise is seen as a seasonal trend linked to increased demand before Ramadan, when families traditionally hold thanksgiving gatherings and prepare special meals.

At provincial level, Nur Kadar from the Food Crops, Horticulture, and Livestock Office of West Sulawesi said prices remain stable across the region. Meanwhile, at national level, the Ministry of Agriculture has reaffirmed its commitment to safeguarding both consumers and traders.

“In line with the Minister of Agriculture’s directive, we want to ensure the public obtains products that are safe, healthy, wholesome, and halal at affordable prices, while traders still receive reasonable margins,” said Agung Suganda in Jakarta.

Minister of Agriculture Andi Amran Sulaiman also stressed that ample production and strong stocks should prevent unjustified price hikes. Authorities say monitoring will continue through Eid al Fitr to maintain steady supply and fair pricing.

CEVA & Saudi Arabia collaborates to transform veterinary medicine. (Image credit: Arab news)

Saudi Arabia has taken a major step towards strengthening its animal health sector through a new partnership with CEVA to localise veterinary vaccine manufacturing within the Kingdom.

The agreement was signed under the patronage of His Excellency Eng. Abdulrahman bin Abdulmohsen Al Fadley, Minister of Environment, Water and Agriculture and Chairman of the National Livestock and Fisheries Development Program, in the presence of senior leaders from the sector.

The Memorandum of Understanding sets out a joint plan to establish domestic production capabilities, transfer advanced technology and technical expertise, and expand industrial and commercial scale manufacturing across different regions of the country. The aim is to create a sustainable operating model that meets national demand while reinforcing biosecurity and food security.

Under the agreement, both sides will work to improve production efficiency and build a clear commercial pathway for locally manufactured vaccines. The cooperation also covers the development of mRNA vaccine technologies and joint research into a vaccine for MERS CoV in camels. This includes designing and evaluating targeted solutions to combat the virus. In addition, the partnership will focus on the development of rabies vaccines and related products, supporting national disease control programmes through reliable vaccine supply, capacity building and integrated prevention strategies.

A key objective is to serve the Kingdom’s poultry vaccine market, currently valued at around US$19.7mn. The plan targets roughly 30 per cent of this market, backed by an initial investment of close to US$66mn. With continued government backing and rising poultry production, the market is projected to grow by more than 10 per cent annually, reaching an estimated US$33bn by 2030.

CEVA’s participation in the Veterinary Biotechnology Future City at the Biotech Park in Dhurma Governorate marks an important milestone. It reflects the Program’s wider strategy to develop advanced industries in livestock and fisheries while building strong international partnerships with leading companies, research institutions and universities.

The agreement also ensures that locally produced vaccines are tailored to disease strains present in the Kingdom. Specialised training programmes will support compliance with international Good Manufacturing Practices standards, reinforcing Saudi Arabia’s ambition to position itself as a global biotechnology hub and strengthen the long term sustainability of its animal health sector.

Aviagen strengthens Malaysia’s poultry industry. (Image credit: Avinews Asia)

Aviagen has reaffirmed its commitment to the Malaysian poultry sector by sponsoring the 2026 reprint of the ‘Guidebook on the Malaysian Poultry Industry – The Way Forward’.

The publication is widely recognised as an important reference tool for policymakers, researchers, and industry participants, helping to guide structured and coordinated development across the national poultry value chain.

The updated guidebook was officially launched during a seminar held in Kuala Lumpur on January 22, 2026. The event was organised by the Malaysian Productivity Corporation and the Agro Food Productivity Nexus, working in collaboration with the Federation of Livestock Farmers’ Associations of Malaysia. The seminar, titled ‘Transforming the Poultry Industry Through Productivity, Technology, and Talent’, attracted more than 100 participants from across the poultry sector, including integrators, farmers, feed manufacturers, suppliers, and government officials.

As part of the programme, Aviagen demonstrated its commitment to openness and knowledge sharing through a virtual presentation titled ‘Poultry Breeding for Better Performance and Disease Prevention’. The session was delivered by Dominic Elfick, Marketing Manager for Aviagen Asia Pacific. During the presentation, Aviagen outlined its balanced breeding philosophy, highlighting the importance of sustainable traits, bird welfare, and consistent long term performance in building resilient poultry production systems.

Aviagen’s role in advancing industry best practices was further recognised during the event when the company was cited by the Department of Veterinary Services as a leading example of compartmentalisation. The department encouraged broader adoption of this approach, which is based on shared management standards and strong biosecurity practices across groups of production units. Compartmentalisation plays a key role in allowing international trade to continue during the event of a notifiable disease outbreak.

Keat Fu, Senior Technical Services Veterinarian for Aviagen Asia, attended the seminar alongside other members of the Aviagen team. He noted that the event provided valuable opportunities to engage directly with industry stakeholders. Feedback from attendees reflected strong support for Aviagen’s focus on sustainable performance, welfare centred breeding strategies, and close collaboration with the wider poultry industry in Malaysia.