14.02.2025 12:12
The United States has made a preliminary agreement to purchase 15,000 tons of eggs from Turkey due to the supply shortage caused by the avian influenza outbreak. It has been reported that the export will not affect domestic market prices.
The President of the Egg Producers Central Union (YUM-BİR), İbrahim Afyon, stated that a preliminary agreement has been made for approximately 15,000 tons of egg demand that will be exported by June, following trial purchases made by the USA last year, saying, "The USA will meet its needs from Turkey, which has a high supply capacity and is safe, until the avian influenza outbreak, which we do not expect to last long, is over."
The recent avian influenza outbreak in the USA has negatively affected the nationwide egg supply. While product prices increased by 15.2% on a monthly basis in January, this was recorded as the largest price increase since June 2015. In that month, the annual price increase reached 53%.
MORE THAN 21 MILLION BIRDS CULLED
Due to the outbreak, more than 21 million birds have been culled in the country as of last week. With the disruption in production, the USA's egg imports increased by 38% in December 2024 compared to the previous month. Following these developments, the USA made egg purchases from Turkey, from which it last imported eggs in January 2023. YUM-BİR President İbrahim Afyon expressed that there is a demand from the USA for egg purchases from Turkey, stating, "They have a demand for a certain amount in packages. We are prepared to meet that package and we have sufficient production." Afyon noted that medium-sized eggs, referred to as "medium," are sent to the USA due to it being a distant and transoceanic market.
"EXPORT WILL NOT AFFECT DOMESTIC PRICES"
In this context, Afyon pointed out that there has been no export exceeding the targeted amount for eggs, stating: "Let it not create the perception that this export will affect domestic market prices before the month of Ramadan. Because the eggs prepared for export today go to country X, tomorrow they go to country Y; these can change. But in terms of quantity, it does not cut from domestic consumption. The export to America or the demand from America will definitely not affect domestic market prices. The dynamics of the domestic market shape themselves, and the export figures shape themselves. As Ramadan approaches, the eggs going to America should not be perceived as a threat to domestic consumption in terms of price."
"THERE IS DEMAND FROM THE EU AS WELL"
Afyon explained that Turkey has production that is more than sufficient for export, making the following assessment: "In other words, we have a sufficiency for export that varies between 15-25% after our 100% sufficiency. We meet the needs of the domestic market, and we send the excess production to the Gulf, the Far East, or the European Union (EU). Because there are also demands from the EU during this period. There is a supply shortage due to the avian influenza outbreak in the USA. When there are more livestock losses than expected, they felt the need to buy eggs from abroad. A preliminary agreement has been made for approximately 15,000 tons of egg demand that will be exported by June, following trial purchases made by the USA. Our companies that will supply this amount will do so by cutting from the quantities they send to other countries. Turkey is one of the leading countries in egg production in the world. The USA's chance of sourcing eggs from other countries is weak in this regard. The USA will meet its needs from Turkey, which has a high supply capacity and is safe, until the avian influenza outbreak, which we do not expect to last long, is over.