Ammon News - Ministries of Industry, Trade and Supply and Agriculture on Wednesday said that there are no monopolist practices for poultry in the local market, and that there are many producing companies and imports are available from abroad.

"There is sufficient local production of chickens, as about 700,000 chickens are supplied daily to the market, whether fresh or live, in addition to what is being imported from frozen chicken," the two ministries said in a joint statement.

They indicated that poultry's local production meets the market’s need and there is a surplus of it.

"The hike in chicken prices in the local market is due to the increase in local production costs, especially feed materials, as the price of a ton of corn increased from JD170 to JD360 and a ton of soybeans from JD340 to JD540, in addition to the rise in other commodities due to the price jumps in global markets," the statement added.

The two ministries said that studies conducted by specialists in the Agriculture Ministry showed an increase in the costs of raising and producing chickens, however; prices in the local market are lower than in neighboring markets.

The statement pointed out that price ceilings that were set up to chickens became null, as they were determined in order to reduce burdens on citizens during the holy month of Ramadan and prevent significant price hikes.

The statement stressed that the two ministries operate within an equation that maintains a balance between the producer, trader and consumer, and that no practices involving unjustified hikes are allowed.

Furthermore, necessary measures will be taken in the event that prices in the market turned out to be unfair, while ensuring that the productive sectors and supply chains continue to meet the market's needs.

According to the statement, the local market is monitored on a daily basis to check on the availability of commodities, especially foodstuff, as well as monitoring any price imbalances that involve exaggerations or unjustified hikes, along with taking appropriate measures to control them.