Analysis Feature
Egg Price Peaks Early and Levels Off
The price of eggs has barely risen in recent weeks. The price peaked early this year, leaving little room for a peak around Christmas. The supply is tight, but due to the high prices, there is no shortage. This is partly because the industry is relying heavily on reserves.
The price of eggs has remained stable in recent weeks. The price of 100 brown eggs size M increased by 5 cents in the last two weeks. This puts the price still above the level of the record year 2022/23. In fact, the price is higher than the closing level of that year. The market seems to peak earlier, as prices are not rising as sharply as in that year. 100 brown free-range eggs size M are priced at €15.25.
The market expectation is that the egg price has more or less reached its peak. The fact that prices are no longer rising does not mean that demand is decreasing. The level was simply already high early in the season. It quickly became clear in the market that the supply this year would be lower compared to the demand. Add to that the fear of bird flu, and you had the recipe for a sharp increase early in the year. That fear has been somewhat limited. In the meantime, there have been outbreaks on laying farms here and there, and the supply has turned out to be quite tight. As a result, the high prices have remained. Due to the higher prices, buyers are somewhat hesitant, and there is no shortage.
In the market, it is heard that the basic supply is in order, although there is still clearly a shortage in the market. Packing stations are working hard to deliver enough quickly, and in the larger classes, consumers sometimes have to wait for deliveries. Especially in the XL class, the supply is not abundant, and the same goes for organic eggs and free-range eggs. The expectation is that the market will remain tight for a while. Many poultry farmers replace their laying hens around Christmas, causing a temporary dip in supply.
German market comparable
Meanwhile, the German egg price is 5 cents lower. Since week 45, the price has remained stable at a level of €15.25 per 100 brown free-range eggs. The differences with the Dutch market are fairly minimal. It is heard in the market that the German industry is still a bit more cautious in their purchases. Due to the high prices, the processing industry is trying to work with existing reserves for as long as possible.
Remarkably, there is currently no talk of shortages of OKT eggs (Ohne Küken Toten). In the last two years, German legislation prohibiting the killing of day-old male chicks has almost always been the first limiting factor. The fact that the scarcity of this technology is now absent explains why the prices are now lower than in the Netherlands.
