In W25 in the chicken-egg landscape, according to Rabobank, world egg prices are expected to remain high in 2023 and 2024 but lower than in Q1 of 2023. The US is an exception, with significant price decreases predicted. Several countries are facing supply problems on their poultry farms due to factors such as bird flu, cost inflation, new regulations, government intervention, changing consumer demand, and limited customer engagement. These issues have caused disruptions in the supply chain, resulting in price fluctuations and empty supermarket shelves in some cases. The EU's ban on cage egg production will increase the costs of raising hens and may reduce competitiveness compared to countries without such requirements. For example, in Poland and Spain, the transition from cage to free-range systems is projected to increase production costs by 23% and 20–30%, respectively. The Polish Ministry of Agriculture suggests a transition period of at least 15 years to adapt egg production to the ban on keeping laying hens in cages, which is expected to take effect in 2027. The estimated cost of this transformation is approximately USD 420 million in Poland and USD 1.09 billion in Spain. INPROVO anticipates a reduction in egg production throughout Europe, resulting in a 13% decrease in the number of laying hens.
In the first five months of 2023, agricultural organisations in the Voronezh region of Russia produced 334.4 million eggs, an increase of 39.5% YoY. The average egg production of laying hens increased by 2.4%, up to 128 pcs. Similarly, in the Saratov region, 398.4 million eggs were produced during the same period, indicating a 2.9% YoY increase. Saratov poultry farmers are not only focusing on increasing egg production but also improving product quality. For instance, one poultry farm is already producing fortified eggs with lutein, meeting GOST standards. In Peru, the price of chicken eggs has risen by USD 2.75/carton, causing a financial burden for consumers. Egypt has sufficient egg production to meet local demand with production even surpassing demand, producing 13 billion eggs annually. Lastly, the South African Poultry Association (SAPA) assures consumers of the safety of poultry products, stating that there have been no reported cases of Avian Influenza transmission from birds to humans. Rumours about halting the sale of poultry products to prevent the spread of avian influenza have been debunked, as there are no inventory shortages at the retail level.
