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The United States is facing a serious crisis in the egg sector due to avian influenza, with a significant reduction in domestic production and a dramatic increase in prices.
To address the situation, the American administration has asked Europe, including Italy, for help in importing large quantities of eggs. However, the response from European countries has been negative, due to strong domestic demand and the absence of production surpluses.
A week ago, the Washington embassy in Rome contacted Unaitalia, the National Union of the Meat and Egg Agri-food Supply Chains, for a supply of eggs to cover the next six months. The request, however, was declined. “We have a self-sufficiency that barely reaches 97%”, explained Ruggero Moretti, president of the Unaitalia Egg Committee, underlining how Italy cannot afford additional supplies. Moretti, who also serves as president of the European Egg Processors Association (EEPA), confirmed that other European countries, including France and Lithuania, have also rejected the US request. “I know for a fact that the Americans have contacted several European countries, always receiving the same response,” Moretti said, noting that Europe does not have a sufficient production surplus to cover US needs.
In the United States, the egg crisis was triggered by a strong wave of avian influenza. According to the CDC (Centres for Disease Control and Prevention) and the USDA (United States Department of Agriculture), more than 162 million birds have been affected by avian influenza since 2022. In the last quarter of 2024 alone, about 20 million laying hens died from the virus, causing a drastic drop in production. This situation has led to a surge in egg prices in the United States, where the cost has reached 1,091.53 euros per 100 kilos, a value far higher than in other regions of the world. In comparison, in Europe the average price is 240.28 euros per 100 kilos, while in Brazil it is 181.79 euros and in India only 83.43 euros.
While the United States is struggling with the production crisis, in Europe the egg sector is experiencing a period of growth. According to Moretti, egg consumption in Italy is increasing: in 2024 it is estimated that around 13.5 billion eggs were consumed, with an increase in per capita consumption of ten units compared to 2023. At a European level, the demand for eggs is also growing. According to updated data from the European Commission (February 2025), France is the largest producer in the European Union, followed by Germany, Spain, Italy and Poland. However, none of these countries have the production capacity to export large quantities to the United States without compromising the internal balance of the market.
Faced with Europe’s refusal, the American administration will now have to explore other solutions to address the egg crisis. Possible alternatives include the markets of Brazil and India, where prices are significantly lower. However, even in these cases, the United States may encounter difficulties, given the need for rigorous quality and health standards for food imports. Another option for the United States could be to increase domestic production through incentives for producers and measures to combat the spread of avian influenza. However, as this is a crisis that has affected the sector for several years, recovery in production may take time.
The egg crisis in the United States highlights the fragility of the agri-food sector in the face of major health emergencies. The request for help addressed to Europe has shown how the Old Continent is facing its own increase in internal demand, which makes it impossible to sustain extraordinary exports to the United States. With skyrocketing prices and reduced domestic production, the U.S. administration will now have to find new strategies to respond to the emergency. The global egg market faces a significant challenge, which could have repercussions not only on consumers, but also on the agricultural and trade policies of the main producing countries.
Alessandro Fiorentino