Egg market at a turning point due to sharply higher imports

Egg prices have been at high levels for a long time. Yet the market seems to have reached a turning point. In recent months, prices have come under pressure and although this is partly a seasonal effect, the supply of eggs in Europe also seems to be increasing structurally. Rising import volumes from Turkey and Ukraine and a substantial increase in new hens are weighing on sentiment. Is the egg market on the eve of a longer period of price pressure? The NOP quotation for brown free-range eggs of 62/63 grams fell in April and May from just under €20 per 100 eggs to around €16.50 per 100 eggs. Although these are still high prices historically, the good sentiment in the market with rapidly falling prices now seems to be a thing of the past. Figures from Eurostat show that there are a number of fundamental shifts taking place in the background. Import volumes from third countries have been increasing in recent months and the production of new laying hens is rising rapidly. This could cause egg production in the European Union to increase further towards the summer and autumn. Imports from Turkey and Ukraine are increasing Figures from Eurostat also show that European Union member states imported 68,000 tons of eggs and egg products in the first four months. That is considerably more than the 40,000 tons over the same period in 2025 and the 26,000 tons in 2024. In two years, the volume increased by around 162%. In absolute terms, imports of whole eggs in particular increased sharply. In percentage terms, imports of egg yolk stand out. The volume tripled in a year from around 1,500 to more than 5,000 tons. Of the total volume, Ukraine and Turkey account for the largest share. Ukraine exported around 35,000 tons of eggs and egg products to EU countries and Turkish exporters brought around 15,000 tons to the market. Substantially more laying hens In addition, producers in the European Union themselves appear to be responding to the high prices of recent years. Figures show that the influx of young hens has been at a high level in recent months. According to European figures, the number of hatched eggs for young laying hens was well above the level of the same period in 2025 in the first quarter. It should be noted that growth in the local region is less strong, with smaller changes in, for example, the Netherlands and Germany. A substantial increase in the number of hens produced is mainly being measured in Poland, Spain and France. In total, 67.0 million young hens were produced in the first quarter, compared with 58.9 million in the first quarter of 2025, an increase of around 13.7%. Part of this may be related to additional replacement of culled hens in connection with bird flu, although there was also a considerable number of outbreaks in the previous winter season. Whether the higher imports and growth in the number of laying hens will fully eliminate the egg shortage remains uncertain. The shortages that have characterised the market recently do seem to be fading into the background.