Egg prices go down, but the market remains tight

Northern European egg prices are declining, but not as quickly as might be expected given the still-elevated price levels. This reflects a market that remains very tight.In Northern Europe, Dutch egg prices have fallen by 3.2% over the past four weeks. While this may seem like a significant drop, prices are actually decreasing quite slowly considering the high starting point and the fact that the decline began after Easter.The relatively modest decline is directly linked to ongoing tightness in the egg market. After Easter, demand for eggs typically drops significantly, but it usually takes some time before prices begin to fall more noticeably. This lag is largely driven by developments in industrial demand. When demand for table eggs peaks, the processing industry tends to draw on its reserves. After the peak, the industry re-enters the market to replenish stocks, temporarily supporting prices.This year, that effect is more pronounced than usual. Industrial reserves were already lower than normal, leaving less room to wait for sharper price declines. Combined with the still-limited availability of eggs, this results in a relatively modest price drop despite the high overall price level.German prices decline more sharplyMeanwhile, egg prices in Germany are falling more significantly, declining by 6.7% from €20.68 to €19.30 per 100 eggs. This is linked to tighter supply conditions and stronger demand for table eggs during the Easter period, which led to a more pronounced peak. Now that industrial demand is becoming dominant again, prices in Germany and the Netherlands are gradually converging.