US Egg Crisis: Soaring Prices and Search for Supply

According to comprehensive reports, the situation of soaring egg prices in the United States continues. Recently, egg associations in Nordic countries said that the US has contacted Denmark and other European countries to inquire whether these countries can export eggs to the US.

The "egg shortage" in the US is hard to solve, and egg prices remain high. "As the avian - influenza outbreak accelerates among laying hens, egg production has sharply decreased, and the wholesale price of eggs in the US is setting new records," it was pointed out.

Since the outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza in 2022, more than 100 million laying hens in the US have been culled. On the first day back in a certain event, a promise was made to lower egg prices, but to date, egg prices in the US still remain high. In February, the year - on - year increase in US egg prices reached 58.8%. At the beginning of March, the average wholesale price of eggs in the US exceeded $8 per dozen (12 eggs).

Reports said that the continuous egg shortage and rising prices have prompted a 24 - hour breakfast chain in the US to add 50 cents to the price of each egg. Some major grocery chains are limiting the number of eggs customers can buy at one time.

A US agricultural economics professor said that as long as the avian - influenza epidemic persists, the egg supply may continue to be tight. "In the short term, egg prices will continue to rise." Experts said that it is not yet clear whether the US has fully controlled the spread of avian influenza. Some predict that it will take at least three to six months for egg prices to fall.

The US is looking for eggs everywhere, but "Europe has no surplus". A letter showed that as early as late February, the US Department of Agriculture's representative in Europe began to send formal inquiries to major egg - producing countries to understand their ability and willingness to export eggs to the US market.

At the beginning of March, the Danish Egg Association received a follow - up letter from the US side. The letter read, "Washington is trying to estimate the actual quantity of eggs they can purchase. We are still waiting for more guidance from Washington on the next steps. Can you provide an estimate of the quantity of eggs that can be supplied to the US (assuming they meet all import requirements)?"

The association said they would conduct an investigation, but there are no surplus eggs in Europe. Due to the increasing consumption of eggs and the impact of avian influenza in many places, "there is a shortage of eggs everywhere globally". The spokesman of the Danish Egg Association also said that they have asked the US to provide more details about the conditions of such an agreement and emphasized that exporting eggs to the US faces challenges due to health - related regulations and other factors.

It was pointed out that Denmark is not the only European country asked to increase egg exports to the US. "They also wrote to my colleagues in the Netherlands, Sweden, and Finland." The timing of this request from the US is a bit awkward. The US government's extensive pleas to Europe contrast sharply with its "aggressive stance" in trade.

Currently, the US is imposing a series of new tariffs on multiple countries including those in Europe and threatening to impose more. The remarks about "not ruling out military means" to take Greenland from Denmark have also caused anger in Denmark.

The CEO of a Nordic food company said, "Our primary position is to serve our existing customers. We currently give priority to long - term strategic cooperation in Denmark, Sweden, Finland, and Norway rather than having to export to a market like the US." The CEO of a Danish egg company said, "If the situation and conditions are acceptable, we will consider the US as an export destination. But now, the US has set up trade barriers for importing egg products from Europe... It's hard for us to believe that this situation will change immediately."