In W42 in the chicken-egg landscape, Mozambique reported a highly pathogenic avian influenza outbreak (H7) affecting a farm with 54,000 laying hens in the southern region. This comes amid concerns as South Africa, a significant poultry producer, is also grappling with a major bird flu outbreak, leading to the deaths of millions of chickens. Bird flu is highly contagious, disrupting poultry supplies, increasing food prices, and posing a potential risk of transmission to humans.
Malaysia's Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim plans to remove subsidies for broiler chickens and eggs, citing a favorable market characterized by an oversupply and lower retail prices in Thailand. The government has devised three measures to address potential price increases, including using 30% of the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security's stocks, strengthening law enforcement and monitoring market conditions, and importing from Thailand as needed.
The Japanese government has lifted the suspension on importing live birds and fertile eggs from Santa Catarina, Brazil, which was put in place on July 17 due to a bird flu case. Previously, on August 18, Japan had already authorized import resumption of chicken meat and eggs from Santa Catarina, a significant source of poultry products for Japan. In 2022, these exports generated approximately USD 310.8 million for Santa Catarina, contributing to 14.75% of the total revenue from such exports for the state.
In Sri Lanka, the Ministry of Agriculture announced its plan to cancel egg and chicken imports in 2024 due to a significant increase in domestic production. This decision is based on an agreement between the government and domestic producers to reduce prices and boost production, leading to self-sufficiency in the Sri Lankan poultry sector. The surge in production is expected to result in lower prices for eggs and poultry in the coming months, following a period of elevated prices that attracted more producers to the poultry industry.
Mexico is a significant consumer of eggs, at 24 kilograms (kg) per capita annually. It is also the world's sixth-largest egg producer, with 172 million laying birds in 2022. The leading states in egg production were Jalisco (1,672,483 mt), Puebla (461,665 mt), Sonora (179,775 mt), San Luis Potosí (113,542 mt), and Yucatán (113,157 mt). The Mexican poultry egg production industry is valued at around USD 3.78 million.
In Russia, a new agricultural enterprise in Chukotka Autonomous Okrug, plans to produce around 390 thousand eggs annually. Construction is complete, and they expect the first batch of over 1,000 chickens in November. The enterprise aims to address interruptions in the supply of fresh chicken eggs to the villages of Alkatvaam and Beringovsky in Chukotka. In recent years, the local authorities have supported poultry farms with financial assistance through state programs.
Lastly, in Ukraine, egg prices are expected to increase by the New Year. The majority of eggs come from small farms, and as their supply decreases, prices are expected to rise. There is a high likelihood that prices may reach around USD 2.05 per dozen, similar to 2022 levels.