W30: Chicken Egg Update

In W30 in the chicken-egg landscape, Thailand's egg farm gate prices have recently increased from USD 0.11/egg to USD 0.12/egg (THB 3.8/egg to THB 4/egg) due to the cost of feed. Feed ingredients such as corn, soybean meal, and grains account for 70% of feed production costs and have increased significantly since the Russia-Ukraine conflict started. Similarly, in Indonesia, egg prices have been steadily increasing, starting at USD 1.92/kg in Jan-23 and reaching USD 2.03/kg currently, due to rising feed costs. Although imported feed only accounts for 35% of the total need, it has an impact of 70% on feed prices, leading to higher production costs for breeders. Additionally, the increased demand for eggs also contributes to the price surge.

In Biddinghuizen, the Netherlands, bird flu was detected on an organic laying hen farm 2.5 weeks after the confinement obligation was lifted in most parts of the country. Approximately 11 thousand laying hens were culled by the NVWA to prevent the virus from spreading. Furthermore, as the Netherlands lifted the confinement obligation, the Dutch Union of Poultry Farmers (NVP) suspects that the percentage of free-range eggs (usually around 20%) will decrease in supermarkets due to uncertainty among farmers about keeping chickens indoors.

Following 16 weeks of compulsory confinement, eggs are downgraded to free-range, which poses challenges for farmers as they require more space outside and face difficulties controlling the chickens, leading to extra work. Due to the downgrading of eggs, entrepreneurs have to compromise on egg prices, and traders have experienced a decline in turnover for free-range eggs. Traders from other countries have taken over some export positions . Consumers in the Netherlands also need to get used to buying free-range eggs again after their absence from supermarkets for a considerable period.

In Azerbaijan, domestic producers supply the local market with more than sufficient quantities of table eggs, chicken meat, and inseminated eggs. However, some companies still import table eggs without production dates and one-day-old chicks. Local producers are facing difficulties in exporting their products due to protectionist measures taken by other countries. To address this issue, the Azerbaijan Poultry Meat & Egg Producers & Exporters' Association (APEPEA) has appealed to the Prime Minister and the ministries of economy and agriculture, proposing additional duties on importing one-day-old chickens for slaughter in Azerbaijan, the prevention of table egg imports without a stamp and production date, and increased control measures for importing these products.

According to the Minister of Agrarian Development and Irrigation in Peru, the supply of chickens and eggs in the country is increasing, and they expect price stabilization by September after rising prices due to bird flu. The minister also mentioned that imported eggs from Brazil served their purpose well. The goal is to gradually regularize the egg supply each month until complete stability is achieved, depending on various factors.