Egg market 2025: rising prices, declining production and new export opportunities

Decline in the USA, increasing exports in the EU

According to the USDA forecast, American egg production may fall by 5.5 percent in 2025, while consumption may also fall by 5 percent from last year’s level. In contrast, the EU remained a net exporter in the first five months of 2025: exports of 199 thousand tons showed a 32 percent increase, while imports expanded by 34 percent to 63 thousand tons. The most important target markets remain the United Kingdom, Switzerland and Japan.

Domestic imports decline, eggs become more expensive

In Hungary, in the first seven months of 2025, shell egg imports decreased by 41 percent to 9.8 thousand tons, and fresh egg imports decreased by 27.5 percent. At the same time, fresh egg exports increased by 70 percent to 1.2 thousand tons. Prices at the packing station increased by over 30 percent: M+L cage eggs increased to 63.3 forints per piece, while deep-litter eggs reached an average price of 72.3 forints.

Market prices: wholesale and consumer differences

According to AKI PÁIR data, the price of eggs in the Budapest Wholesale Market increased to 72 forints per piece (+30.9%), in Szeged to 65 forints (+12.1%), and in Debrecen to 80 forints (+45.5%). A mixed picture emerges on the consumer markets: an 11 percent price increase was recorded in Szeged, while a nearly 6 percent decrease was recorded in Debrecen. Store prices also show significant variation: S-sized eggs range from 569–711 forints, M-sized eggs from 649–769 forints in a pack of ten.

Challenges and opportunities

The decline in demand and the increase in prices place a serious burden on consumers, while stable demand in foreign markets creates an opportunity for domestic producers to strengthen their positions. The future of the Hungarian egg sector is thus shaped simultaneously by international export opportunities and domestic market price pressure.