44 • URNER BARRY'S REPORTER / VOL. 18, NO. 4 / FALL 2023
EU prices for liquid and solid eggs have
been falling during the second quarter of
2023 after reaching record-high values.
The price for liquid whole egg dropped by
36% in 16 weeks, a seismic decline for this
product, which had been progressing in
value since fall 2021. All other egg items
are following the same trend, though the
tipping point is not always at the same
moment. This weak market undercurrent is
generally attributed to a reduced demand
from the food industry, a seasonal effect
of the summer holidays across Europe.
In reality, the factors involved in this
persistent decline are more complex.
As raw material prices plunged 50.9%, from
2.55 €/kg mid-March to 1.20 €/kg midJuly,
whole egg powder-the most traded
liquid egg item-reduced from 3.10 €/kg
during the third week of March, to 2.00
€/kg mid-July. Egg white prices started
to decline earlier (in November) with low
demand at 1.78 €/kg at the beginning of
November to 0.78 €/kg mid-July. However,
as a counterweight effect until the end
of March, prices for yolk justified the
separation costs. Liquid yolk benefited
from regular demand, resulting in a later
tipping point; its prices reached record
breaking levels in the last week of March at
5.60 €/kg and were standing at 4.40 €/kg
mid-July. This represents a decrease of
21.4% for yolk in 16 weeks and of 56.1% for
egg white in 36 weeks.
The reasons for these movements
are varied, starting with a decline of
industry egg values. In 2022 egg farmers
faced HPAI outbreaks and rising input
costs-namely hen feed-reducing egg
production. At the same time, the demand
for eggs in supermarkets soared due
to inflation on groceries. So, eggs for
breaking prices had been climbing for
around seven months from 1.40 €/kg in
August 2022 to 2.55 €/kg in March 2023.
After Easter, despite retail still absorbing
large volumes of graded eggs, the industry
put the brakes on ordering egg ingredients,
and prices have been gradually decreasing
Record levels before the fall…
Why egg product prices in the EU
plummeted for four months
€0.00
€1.00
€2.00
€3.00
€4.00
€5.00
€6.00
May-20 Oct-20 Mar-21 Aug-21 Jan-22 Jun-22 Nov-22 Apr-23
Liquid Egg Prices in the EU
Source: Urner Barry
Whole Egg Egg White Egg Yolk
€0.00
€5.00
€10.00
€15.00
€20.00
€25.00
May-20 Oct-20 Mar-21 Aug-21 Jan-22 Jun-22 Nov-22 Apr-23
Dried Egg Prices in the EU
Source: Urner Barry
Whole Egg Egg White Egg Yolk
€0.00
€1.00
€2.00
€3.00
€4.00
€5.00
€6.00
May-20 Oct-20 Mar-21 Aug-21 Jan-22 Jun-22 Nov-22 Apr-23
Liquid Egg Prices in the EU
Source: Urner Barry
Whole Egg Egg White Egg Yolk
€0.00
€5.00
€10.00
€15.00
€20.00
€25.00
May-20 Oct-20 Mar-21 Aug-21 Jan-22 Jun-22 Nov-22 Apr-23
Dried Egg Prices in the EU
Source: Urner Barry
Whole Egg Egg White Egg Yolk
0
500
1,000
1,500
2,000
2,500
3,000
3,500
4,000
4,500
5,000
MT Egg and Egg Products - Ukraine exports to the EU (volume)
Source: Global Trade Tracker
Shell Eggs Egg Products