Following a period of relative calm in 2023, bird flu outbreaks have resurged in poultry plants across various countries, including the United States and Japan, leading to a significant surge in global chicken egg prices.
David Anderson, a professor and food economist at Texas A&M University’s Department of Agricultural Economics, explained that the recent dramatic increase in egg prices is attributed to outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in egg farms. These outbreaks have resulted in significant chicken fatalities and reduced egg production.
According to data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, over 14 million egg-laying chickens died in the United States between November and December 2023 due to avian influenza infections. Additionally, recent statistics indicate that over 8 million chickens on U.S. farms are still affected by avian influenza.
In response to the outbreaks, Cal-Maine Foods, the largest egg producer in the U.S., temporarily halted production at some facilities and culled over 1 million chickens at one of its factories.
Nan-Dirk Mulder, Senior Analyst at Robobank, highlighted that several countries and regions, including the U.S., European Union, Russia, South Africa, India, and Nigeria, are grappling with record-high egg prices.
In the U.S., Grade A eggs, particularly large-sized ones, have surged to $2.41 per dozen, marking a 10% increase since the beginning of the year. Meanwhile, in Japan, where poultry farms in several provinces have reported bird flu infections, egg prices have seen a notable spike. Japan, being the world’s second-largest consumer of eggs per capita, relies heavily on eggs as a key ingredient in its cuisine. Prices of medium-sized eggs in Japan have surged by 20%, from 179 yen ($1.16) per kilogram at the start of the year to approximately 218 yen per kilogram as of April 17.