Global Supply Crisis Impact Beginning To Filter Into Daily Costs – Akmal Nasrullah
KUALA LUMPUR, April 21 (Bernama) -- The impact of the global supply crisis is beginning to filter into transportation, logistics, goods prices and daily expenses, with the country now entering an increasingly evident phase of cost adjustment, said Economy Minister Akmal Nasrullah Mohd Nasir.
He said that monitoring of selected food prices for the period April 13 to 19, 2026 shows mixed price movements.
He said the situation indicates that supply pressures are not occurring uniformly, but vary by category and are influenced by factors such as weather, agricultural input costs, transportation costs and short-term supply fluctuations.
“The average price of standard chicken increased by 2.8 per cent from RM9.09 per kilogramme to RM9.33 per kilogramme, while the price of beef declined by 5.0 per cent to RM35.65 per kilogramme, and Grade C eggs remained stable at an average of RM3.66 per 10 eggs.
“For fish and vegetable categories, the price of mackerel decreased to RM16.43 per kilogramme from RM17.08, while the average price of mustard greens rose from RM5.89 to RM6.21 per kilogramme, and the price of green spinach remained stable at RM5.26 per kilogramme,” he said in a special briefing on the global supply crisis broadcast live on local television today.
He said the Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM) also recorded an increase in the average diesel price in Peninsular Malaysia to RM4.09 per litre compared with RM2.98 in February, while RON97 rose to RM4.01 from RM3.11.
In this regard, he said the government’s response must be honest, swift and precise, based on current data, in addressing the impact of the crisis on the people’s livelihoods.
On the labour market, Akmal Nasrullah said the current trend of job losses has yet to show large-scale pressure, but still requires close monitoring.
“Past experience shows that the impact of energy cost shocks on employment usually emerges with a time lag.
“Based on data on benefit applications under the Employment Insurance System by the Social Security Organisation (PERKESO), a total of 4,708 workers were reported to have lost their jobs in the first 16 days of April 2026,” he said.
Akmal Nasrullah said the second quarter of 2026 will be a crucial period to assess whether cost pressures faced by companies begin to translate into operational downsizing or job cuts.
-- BERNAMA
