By the WahLiao desk · Last verified 28 September 2026

Almost all of Singapore’s chicken is imported, from more than 20 accredited countries. Before June 2022, about a third came from Malaysia, mostly as live birds slaughtered here and sold as “fresh” chicken, and roughly half came from Brazil, mostly frozen. That mix explains the price: fresh chicken depends on a short, fast supply line across the Causeway and costs more, while frozen chicken travels by sea from further away and usually costs less.

It also explains 2022. When Malaysia restricted chicken exports from 1 June that year, fresh chicken became scarce and dearer overnight, and Singapore turned to chilled and frozen chicken from other countries. The shelves adjusted. The chicken rice stalls felt it most.

Chicken in Singapore: quick facts

Imports	Almost all; more than 20 countries accredited to supply chicken
Before June 2022	About 34 per cent from Malaysia, about half from Brazil, with the United States and others making up the rest
Fresh chicken	From live birds, mostly from Malaysia, slaughtered and chilled in Singapore
Chilled chicken	Slaughtered abroad and kept cold, never frozen, such as from Thailand and Australia
Frozen chicken	Frozen for sea freight, largely from Brazil and the United States; usually the cheapest
How to compare	Price per kilo, for the same cut and the same state (fresh, chilled or frozen)

The WahLiao Verdict

Cost	Fresh chicken usually costs the most per kilo; frozen the least.
What you get	From fresh, the texture chicken rice cooks prize; from frozen, the same protein at a lower price for most home dishes.
The alternative	Frozen chicken thawed properly in the fridge, which suits curries, stews, stir-fries and roasts.
Worth it for	Paying for fresh or chilled when poaching, steaming or cooking a dish where texture is the point.
Skip it if	The chicken is going into a two-hour curry. Frozen will do the job.
Last verified	28 September 2026, against the Singapore Food Agency and published reporting on the 2022 supply disruption.

Where does Singapore’s chicken come from?

Before Malaysia’s 2022 restrictions, Singapore imported about 34 per cent of its chicken from Malaysia and nearly half from Brazil, with the United States and other countries such as New Zealand supplying the rest. Almost all the Malaysian chicken arrived as live birds, which were slaughtered and chilled in Singapore to meet the strong local preference for fresh chicken. More than 20 countries are accredited to supply chicken, including Brazil, Thailand and Australia, and Indonesia was added in June 2022.

Fresh, chilled or frozen chicken: what is the difference?

• Fresh chicken in Singapore means birds slaughtered here, mostly from live chickens imported from Malaysia. It is what most chicken rice stalls and wet market poultry sellers use.
• Chilled chicken is slaughtered abroad and kept cold, but not frozen, all the way to the shelf. It needs a fast cold chain and has a short shelf life.
• Frozen chicken is frozen soon after processing so that it can travel by sea, which is far cheaper. Properly frozen and thawed, it is safe and good for most home cooking.

Our guide to chilled, frozen and thawed meat explains the labels and why passing off thawed meat as chilled is an offence.

What happened when Malaysia stopped exporting chicken?

On 23 May 2022, Malaysia announced that it would restrict chicken exports from 1 June to bring down domestic prices, which effectively stopped exports to Singapore and several other markets. With about a third of its chicken supply at stake, Singapore saw a rush on fresh chicken, and sellers warned of price rises. Some wet market poultry stalls closed temporarily, and chicken rice sellers faced higher costs.

The Consumers Association of Singapore and the Singapore Food Agency advised shoppers to consider frozen chicken and other meats and to buy only what they needed. Importers brought in more chilled chicken from countries such as Thailand and Australia, and more frozen chicken from Brazil and the United States, and Indonesia was accredited as a new source at the end of June. The restrictions were later eased. The lesson, as with eggs and rice, was diversification: the shelf held because there were other sources to turn to.

Why does the price of chicken change?

• Feed and fuel costs abroad, which feed through to farm prices.
• Export decisions by supplying countries, as in 2022.
• Bird flu, which can stop exports from an affected region; in 2025, agreements allowed chicken to keep arriving from unaffected parts of Brazil.
• The mix of fresh, chilled and frozen on sale, since fresh costs more to supply.
• The exchange rate with the currencies of supplying countries.

Official figures show how quickly prices can move: the Department of Statistics recorded average chicken prices rising from $6.60 a kilo in March 2022 to $7.21 in April 2022, before the export restrictions had even begun.

How to pay less for chicken

1. Compare per kilo, for the same cut and the same state.
2. Buy frozen for dishes that are cooked long or with sauce.
3. Buy whole birds or larger packs and portion them yourself, if you will use them.
4. Use thighs and drumsticks, which usually cost less than breast and stay moist.
5. Thaw in the fridge, never on the counter, and cook within a day of thawing.

If you need halal chicken, check the certification on the pack; our guide to halal groceries explains how.

Frequently asked questions

Where does Singapore’s chicken come from?

Almost entirely from imports. Before June 2022, about 34 per cent came from Malaysia and about half from Brazil, with the United States and others supplying the rest. More than 20 countries are accredited.

What does fresh chicken mean in Singapore?

Chicken from live birds slaughtered in Singapore, mostly imported live from Malaysia.

Is frozen chicken as good as fresh?

For most home cooking, yes, if it has been kept frozen and is thawed in the fridge. Fresh or chilled chicken is preferred where texture matters most, such as poached chicken rice.

Why did chicken prices rise in 2022?

Because Malaysia restricted chicken exports from 1 June 2022, cutting off about a third of Singapore’s supply, mostly fresh chicken, until other sources filled the gap.

How can I save money on chicken?

Compare per kilo, buy frozen for long-cooked dishes, use thighs and drumsticks, and buy larger packs only if you will use them.

Read next

This page belongs to How Supermarket Works, our series on the grocery network behind the shelf. Continue with chilled, frozen or thawed and food supply scares and stockpiles.

Sources checked 28 September 2026: New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Malaysia restricts chicken trade (June 2022); reporting of the Singapore Food Agency’s accreditation of Indonesia (30 June 2022); Department of Statistics average retail prices as reported (2022); SFA, Our Singapore Food Story 2. Prices quoted are historical; check current shelf prices. Last updated 28 September 2026.