The trends in the European egg sector are changing: decreasing imports, increasing exports in Hungary and the EU

By: Trademagazin Date: 2024. 08. 22. 12:08

In the first four months of 2024, significant changes can be observed in the egg sector of the European Union. The EU’s egg imports fell by almost a fifth, while the Community’s exports increased by more than 20 percent. Similar trends were also observed in Hungary: egg imports decreased by 8%, while exports increased by 25% in the first five months of the year – reports the Agricultural Sector.

In the EU, the packing point price of table eggs (M+L) from cage farming decreased by nearly one-fifth in the first 31 weeks of the year, and the price of deep-laid eggs by 16.3% compared to the same period of the previous year. According to the latest projections, US egg production may also decline in the third quarter of 2024, and per capita egg consumption may also decline.

European Union imports of eggs and egg products increased by 19% to 35,000 tons in the first four months of 2024, while exports rose by 21.5% to 120,000 tons. The largest destination countries for EU exports were the United Kingdom, Japan and Switzerland, which bought a total of 83,000 tons of eggs and egg products in the first four months of this year.

In Hungary, the packing point price of table eggs from cage farming was HUF 49.38/piece in the first 31 weeks of 2024, which was 18.8% lower than the average price of the same period of the previous year. The price of eggs from deep litter also showed a significant decrease, becoming cheaper by 16.3%.

According to data from the Central Statistical Office (KSH), the consumer price of eggs in July 2024 was 14.7% lower than in the same period of the previous year, which represents a 4.3% price decrease compared to June this year.