Egg prices: Why France is more protected from the high rises seen in US
France is currently unlikely to see similar sharp price increases, an expert says
Almost 90% of people in France eat eggs at least once a week
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The egg crisis hitting the US - which has seen large boxes of premium eggs rise to as high as $20 (€19) - could have repercussions in France, but a similar increase in prices is unlikely, an expert has said.
A severe outbreak of H5N1 avian influenza virus in the US has forced farmers to slaughter 158 million turkeys, chickens, and laying hens, as of January 2025. A carton of 12 grade A eggs - one of the best qualities - cost $4.95 (€4.76) in January, one price report said.
This is almost a doubling of prices compared to the same time last year. In some shops, a 30-egg carton of ‘high-end’, premium eggs has even hit the $20 mark (€19.23).
Pressure in Europe
The European egg market is under pressure due to the same virus, with almost six million hens having been culled in Italy, Germany and Poland.
This has led to high demand and not enough production to meet it in those countries, said Thomas Bartlett, secretary general of the French national union of egg manufacturers le syndicat national des industriels et professionnels de l’œuf to La Dépêche.
He was more optimistic about the situation in France.
“At the national level, the health situation is more favourable this year, with few or no outbreaks of avian influenza in laying hen farms [here],” he said. “Demand continues to grow every year, as consumers increasingly include this food in their diet. A sectoral plan has been put in place to develop French farms to respond to this trend.”
‘More linked to production costs than demand’
Consumer figures suggest that almost 90% of people in France consume eggs at least once a week. Yet, the price of eggs has not changed in the past six months, remaining at some €2.15 per box of six eggs, shows a recent report on consumer prices.
“The farming model in France, particularly in the south-west, favours family farms. Moreover, thanks to…the measures of the Egalim law, prices are more linked to production costs than to demand,” added Mr Bartlett.
Read also: What is France's Egalim law and why does it matter to farmers?
However, he said that the sector was not becoming complacent, and was keeping a close eye on the situation in the US and the rest of Europe.
“We are closely monitoring the health situation in the United States, particularly the possible importation of the virus to France,” he said.
Read also: Egg prices to rise sharply in France as a result of bird flu epidemic
In 2022, France was more affected by an avian flu epidemic, with heavy users of eggs - such as patissiers, restaurateurs, artisan bakers, and ice cream makers - particularly affected. At the time, one ice cream shop manager said that prices had increased by 11% in three months.
