US egg shortage: Does Europe have any to spare?

In recent weeks, some consumers in the United States have been paying more than $10 (€9.22) for a dozen eggs after an outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) caused an egg shortage and a massive spike in prices.

More than 166 million wild and domestic birds have been culled since the H5N1 strain of bird flu was first detected by US authorities in early 2022.

The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) reported this week that more than 30 million hens have been culled since the beginning of the year.

The latest losses account for 12.3% of the national stock of caged birds and nearly 8% of the cage-free flock. The organic flock has been largely untouched by the outbreak, according to USDA data.

USDA reported outbreaks at poultry and dairy farms in nine US states, in its latest Egg Markets Overview published on March 14.

Faced with a huge egg shortage, and prices rising 159% in a year, some grocery stores have begun rationing the number of eggs each shopper can buy.

Over the past few weeks, US officials have contacted several European countries for help to alleviate the shortage, despite growing trade tensions between US President Donald Trump's administration and the European Union over tariffs.

Several media outlets reported that agricultural bodies in Denmark, Sweden, the Netherlands, Germany, Spain, France and Italy have been approached to see if they can export their excess supply across the Atlantic.

Does Europe have eggs to spare?

Europe has also been grappling with its own bird flu outbreak over the past three years, leading to egg shortages across the continent.

Poland, Hungary and France have been among the worst affected and in January, Portugal reported an outbreak on a poultry farm near the capital Lisbon.

In the United Kingdom, strict disease control measures have been implemented this year following a suspected case of avian flu in County Tyrone, Northern Ireland.

The US has historically imposed restrictions on importing eggs from most European Union states due to concerns about avian diseases, especially bird flu.

Due to their own egg shortages, most European countries say they have limited capacity to export eggs to the US.

Hans-Peter Goldnick, president of the German Egg Association, says while Germany has exported some eggs via the commodities trading market known as the spot market the volume was very small.

Speaking to German public broadcaster NDR on Wednesday (March 19) he said egg supply for Easter was secure, but urged Germans to "continue consuming eggs as usual and not start stockpiling them."

Germany doesn't have much of an excess supply. relying on imports for more than a quarter of its egg consumption needs in 2023, according to government data.

A Finnish poultry official told public broadcaster Yle that the Nordic country is unlikely to be able to help because of US import restrictions.

Even if the red tape could be overcome, Finland only has four million laying hens for its own needs with little excess supply.

Swedish and Danish officials cited similar bureaucracy and shortages as preventing any speedy help being offered to the US.

Who has spare eggs to export to the US?

Last month, Reuters news agency reported that Turkey would expand its egg exports to the US, having agreed to send an extra 15,000 tons of eggs under a temporary deal with Washington.

Ibrahim Afyon, chairman of the Egg Producers Central Union in Turkey, said between now and July, the country would deliver some 240 million eggs, about six times the quantity exported to the US in 2024.

The additional exports will generate about $26 million in revenue for Turkey. 

Last month, Bloomberg reported that the US plans to reinstate import licenses for egg products from the Netherlands, to try to ease the domestic egg shortage.

The Dutch are the world's largest egg exporters and the plans include deliveries of liquid and powdered eggs, according to the European Union of Wholesale in Eggs, Egg-Products, Poultry and Game (EUWEP).

As well as import restrictions, Europe would face logistical issues exporting eggs across the Atlantic due to their fragility and the critical need for temperature control.

Air transport is expensive, while sea freight would take took long to retain the eggs' shelf life.

How long will the US egg crisis continue?

Egg prices in the US have begun to fall sharply in the past month, partly due tomuch lower demand, and an improvement in supplies.

After average wholesale prices peaked at $8.15 in mid-February, prices have for now halved, according to USDA data. Those prices could take some time to filter down to consumers.

But demand could rise again in the coming months and the persistence of bird flu outbreaks could continue to impact egg production.

Replacing culled hens and allowing them to reach egg-laying maturity is a time-consuming process, taking 4-5 months. Even after they start laying, egg production is low at first and gradually increases over time.

Hatcheries also need time to ramp up the production of new pullets (young hens), partly due to strict biosecurity measures, which lead to bottlenecks.

Many egg producers may be hesitant to replenish their stock for fear of further bird flu outbreaks.

Given these factors, many experts anticipate that egg prices will remain high, and the shortage may persist for at least the rest of the year.

Edited by: Uwe Hessler