Hyderabad Chicken Shops Shut Indefinitely From April 1? Here’s What Happened

Chicken shops across Hyderabad have begun an indefinite shutdown from Tuesday, April 1, as traders launch a protest over sharply reduced profit margins and rising operating costs. The protest has been called by the Telangana Chicken Shop Owners Association, which says thousands of retailers are no longer able to sustain their businesses under the current pricing structure.

Around 50,000 chicken shops to remain closed in Hyderabad

According to the Telangana Chicken Shop Owners Association, the closure will continue until their demands are addressed. The association has said that nearly 50,000 chicken shops in Hyderabad will remain shut as part of the agitation.

The protest follows growing frustration among poultry retailers, who claim that poultry companies have significantly reduced the margins they earn on chicken sales. Posters had also appeared in several parts of the city earlier, highlighting the losses being faced by shop owners and warning of a possible shutdown.

Traders say profits have fallen sharply while costs rise

Chicken traders have alleged that the margins they once earned have dropped drastically over time. They say their earlier profit of Rs 25-30 per kg has now come down to just Rs 5-10 per kg, making it increasingly difficult to continue operations.

At the same time, they have pointed out that business expenses have steadily increased. Shop owners say rent, transport charges and labour wages have all gone up, further squeezing already thin earnings and pushing many traders into losses.

The association is demanding that profit margins be restored so that retailers can continue running their shops without financial strain.

Egg prices fall in Hyderabad amid West Asia export disruption

Even as chicken traders protest in Hyderabad, egg prices in the city have seen a noticeable drop in recent days. Retail egg prices have reportedly fallen from Rs 7 to Rs 5 per piece.

The decline has been linked to disruptions in exports caused by the ongoing war involving Iran, Israel, and the United States. With shipping routes under strain and security concerns affecting several ports and airports in West Asia, egg exports from India have been hit badly.

Halt in exports impacts poultry trade across parts of Telangana

The disruption in exports to West Asia has brought movement of chicken eggs to a standstill in some parts of Telangana, affecting the local poultry market. As export demand weakens, supply has increased in the domestic market, contributing to the fall in retail egg prices.

The twin developments of an indefinite chicken shop shutdown in Hyderabad and falling egg prices have added fresh pressure on the city's poultry trade, with traders now waiting for a resolution to their margin-related demands.