Egg prices in Northern Europe continue to rise. In both the Netherlands and Germany, prices are at record levels. Prices are rising rapidly in Germany, in particular, due to the outbreak of Newcastle disease (ND).
The European egg market remains structurally tight, driven by a persistent imbalance between supply and demand. Consumer demand for eggs remains higher than previously expected, while supply growth remains limited. Even when new flocks of laying hens come into production, the additional volumes are expected to be used primarily to address existing shortages in the supply and processing chain, rather than entering the open market.
With Easter approaching, market pressure is likely to increase rather than decrease in the short term. Demand for eggs is expected to peak in about a month. Only after Easter does a decline seem likely.
Dutch egg prices not only continue to rise but are breaking new records. In week 10, eggs of size 62/63 sold for €19,15 per 100. This puts the price well above the level seen around Christmas, when the price was €18,90.
animal health
Challenges related to animal diseases remain a significant source of uncertainty. In practice, the number of laying hens actually lost, even in the worst years, is insignificant. However, last-minute order diversions lead to significant additional costs, and the uncertainty also puts upward price pressure on the egg market.
Ongoing outbreaks of avian influenza (AI) continue to limit production capacity in several European regions. Furthermore, the recent detection of Newcastle disease (ND) cases in Germany has led to culling, resulting in additional flocks being taken out of production. Consequently, prices in Germany are higher than in the Netherlands. In Germany, the €20,00 wholesale price barrier has now been broken: the price of barn eggs size M rose to €20,17 per 100 eggs, according to the Weser-Ems listing. In the Netherlands, the wholesale index is still close to the €20,00 barrier, at €19,95.