Malaysia to stop exporting four species of fish and shrimp from Jan 1 to Feb 28

KUALA LUMPUR — A week after declaring that it may limit or stop the export of eggs, Malaysia has announced that it will prohibit the export of four species of fish and shrimp.

This is to meet the shortage in the market during the monsoon and festive seasons, Agriculture and Agro-based Industry Minister Salahuddin Ayub said on Monday (Dec 17).

The Bernama news agency said that four species — mackerel, trevally, Indian mackerel and pomfret — will be prohibited from export from Jan 1 to Feb 28, 2019.

Chinese New Year falls during this period and the price of the pomfret would typically surge due to high demand and the monsoon season dampening supply.

Last Monday, Malaysian Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said that the country may limit or stop the export of eggs to ensure sufficient supply for its domestic market.

He said that egg prices in Malaysia have been going up every week for the past months, and his ministry has received numerous complaints.

Malaysia is Singapore's largest supplier of eggs. Last year, Singapore imported 73 per cent of its eggs from Malaysia, and less than 1 per cent from accredited farms in Thailand, Japan, Australia and New Zealand.

However, the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority of Singapore (AVA) said that the country has a "wide range of alternative sources", including local farms. AGENCIES