The return of avian flu combined with rising food and energy prices have led to a spike in egg prices. It will be necessary to wait until the end of the Easter holidays to have a cheaper omelet, according to specialists.
A poultry farmer currently pays 15.90 euros to produce 100 eggs, whereas he paid 7.47 euros for the same quantity a year earlier. A “historically high” figure, according to Wouter Wytynck, expert from the Boerenbond agricultural union.
These record prices are linked to the supply and demand market, which was deregulated in particular by the resurgence of avian flu in 2022. In Belgium, the virus led to the death of hundreds of thousands of laying hens, which caused the supply to fall.
Rising energy prices and the cost of animal feed have also led to a drastic drop in profitability for farmers. The latter were forced to stop their productions last spring. The number of empty chicken coops then skyrocketed. It was only in the fall that profitability improved, but restarting production is time-consuming: it takes an average of 21 to 22 weeks before having new laying hens.
Currently, prices are still on the upside, says Wytynck. As Easter approaches, there is always additional demand, especially in Germany, where colored eggs are particularly popular. “But the price will remain high for some time. It is only after Easter that the demand and therefore the price will drop,” predicts the expert.
A shortage of eggs is not expected, however. The considerable drop in their quantity on the market is not good news for food inflation, however, since the egg is the basic ingredient of many products.