The ongoing spread of avian influenza in Europe and the United States continues to disrupt the poultry sector, significantly affecting egg supplies.

This disease, prevalent since 2022, has led to severe challenges in countries such as Italy, Poland, France, Portugal, Germany, and the United Kingdom, with anticipated shortages expected to escalate ahead of the Easter holiday.

According to Eurostat data, wholesale egg prices across the European Union have experienced marked increases.

In Belgium, for instance, the wholesale price of eggs rose by 7.9% in January 2025 compared to January 2024, with a dramatic month-to-month increase of 15.6% from December 2024. Other nations have also reported significant jumps in prices, including the Netherlands with 15.3%, Poland at 12.3%, France at 2.4%, and Spain at 3.3%.

The average price of eggs in the EU for January stood at €249.59 per 100 kg, representing a 10.3% increase from the previous year and a 5.4% rise compared to December 2024. In Croatia, however, prices have decreased to €242.96 per 100 kg, reflecting a year-over-year decline of 7.7% and a month-on-month decrease of 1.8%.

The fluctuations in prices, particularly within Croatia, may be linked to government decisions to freeze prices on Class M eggs from cage production since September 2023 or increased imports from Ukraine, which reached 100 million eggs at the end of 2024, accounting for 20% of domestic production.

Traders emphasize that the costs of domestic production remain high, thus allowing imported eggs from private brands to dominate supermarket shelves.

Additionally, Croatian producers may find better pricing opportunities in foreign markets, potentially making domestic eggs less accessible to local consumers.

Data from the Agricultural Ministry's Market Information Center indicates that wholesale prices for eggs from cage production in Croatia were 1.1% to 4.6% lower in January than in December 2024, while eggs from free-range production saw price drops of 5.1% to 8.8%.

The average price for the most commonly sold eggs from both production systems was €0.16 for Class L and €0.15 for Class M, while some EU countries sell these eggs for as much as €0.20 each.

Marko Brajević, the director of "Perfa ovo," a company specializing in the sale of fresh eggs from various production systems, including organic and free-range, observes that the price increases in the European market reflect a reduction in production levels.

The outbreak of avian influenza in the EU resulted in the culling of tens of millions of hens throughout 2023, with significant losses occurring during a resurgence of the disease in late summer and early autumn.

Culling is deemed the only effective measure against this illness, leading to justified concerns over potential egg shortages in the EU market, especially during periods of heightened demand like Easter.

The egg shortage crisis affects not only Europe but also the United States, where some retailers have implemented purchase limitations per customer due to the supply crunch.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture anticipates a further increase in egg prices of 41.1% throughout 2025. In certain regions of the United States, wholesale prices for large eggs have reportedly climbed to $7.24 in New York and $8.35 in California for a dozen.