The Central Union of Egg Producers in Turkey has announced plans to export 420 million eggs to the United States in 2023, marking a record high for exports to the U.S. This surge in exports is largely attributed to the ongoing avian influenza outbreak in the United States, which has resulted in the deaths of over 140 million birds since 2022, including 17 million in November and December alone.

As a consequence, the reduction in bird populations has led to fewer eggs being produced, coinciding with significant price increases.

Ibrahim Afjon, President of the Central Union of Egg Producers in Turkey, highlighted that avian influenza is the primary driver for the increase in exports.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the price for a dozen large Grade A eggs reached $4.95 last month.

Major retailers such as Costco and Trader Joe's have limited egg purchases per customer, and Waffle House has added a surcharge of $0.50 per egg.

Experts estimate it will take months to resolve the ongoing egg shortage, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) anticipates that egg prices could rise an additional 20% within the year.

In the previous month, egg prices had already seen a 15.2% increase, and they are currently 50% higher than the same month last year.

American companies have taken on the responsibility of sourcing eggs from abroad, with Turkey being the only country from which the U.S. is importing eggs.

However, analysts contend that while increased imports could help mitigate some production losses, they are unlikely to significantly alleviate the overall shortage in the U.S. The economist Bernt Nelson from the American Farm Bureau Federation noted that the current scale of imports would not provide substantial relief if avian influenza continues to spread at its current rate.

The U.S. typically produces over 1.75 billion eggs annually, but this number is expected to decline further as avian influenza impacts more birds.

Chegg Gregory, President and CEO of the U.S. Egg Producers Association, expressed support for temporary egg product imports to relieve supply pressures during this challenging period of ongoing avian influenza discoveries.

Last year, the U.S. imported 71 million eggs from Turkey, with this year's imports projected to increase sixfold.

Turkey plans to export 240 million eggs to the U.S. by July, followed by another nearly equal shipment by the end of the year.

With a current standing as the fifth-largest egg exporter globally, behind the Netherlands, the U.S., Poland, and Germany, Turkey’s egg exports amounted to $411 million in 2023, with exports to the U.S. valued at $37 million.

In response to the crisis, some U.S. farmers, such as Dag Korvin from Long Island, have resorted to culling 99,000 ducks on their farms.

There are growing calls to implement vaccination measures against avian influenza.

Last week, the USDA conditionally approved the use of vaccines for chickens based on efficacy and safety demonstrations.

Despite the potential benefits of vaccination, concerns exist regarding trade implications.

Many egg producers advocate for vaccination; however, poultry growers worry it may pose trade complications.

If vaccination measures are adopted, the virus could be deemed endemic in vaccinated flocks, complicating detection and potentially diminishing the demand for U.S. poultry and poultry products abroad.

The White House has stated that it is formulating a strategy to combat avian influenza, which they believe should have been developed a year prior.

Experts emphasize that increased funding and staffing for virus research and oversight are necessary, contrasting with current governmental actions, which include substantial staff reductions in the USDA and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

According to Rebecca Carrier Kristofferson, a professor of pathobiological sciences at LSU School of Veterinary Medicine, this is a critical time for cohesive action and management of the situation.