No, they are not your impressions. Prepare an tortilla is more expensive today than only a few months ago. After experimenting A price increase Between August and December 2024 in the EU set, egg cards have risen again in recent days clearlyas noted The Observatory FACUA PRICE OR THE SERVICES OF Toledo and Bellpuig. Behind that trend there are a number of key factors and especially a great question: what can we expect from now on?
More expensive eggs? The data of the observatory FACUA PRICE AND THE SERVICES OF Toledo either Bellpuig They show it clearly: after The climb Price scored already during the second half of 2024, the eggs have become more expensive.
The percentage It can vary of one chain to anotherbut at the beginning of March the consumer organization registered increases in the price of the eggs of up to 25%. Meanwhile, the Catalan Lonja or the Toledo also scored price increases that have become 8 or 14 centsdepending on the type of product.
What is the reason? Better talk about reasons, in the plural. The first key is the demand itself. The sector has registered an increase that already goes back to 2024with one 8% risefar superior to that noted by meat or refrigerated. It is not strange. During the Inflationist scenarios Consumers look for cheaper options, such as eggs, a protein source economic.
With that backdrop the farms have also had to deal with a series of factors that affect their costs: The end of bonuses in the electricity bill and an increase in labour and the grain In recent years. The sector has warned of impact that will have the regulation that aims to eliminate the cages.
Are the only factors? No. The analysis On egg prices usually point out another key: the ghost of the avian flu that hits especially to the USplunged into what has already been baptized as “ovoflation”marked by scarcity and record prices. In January the Average price From a dozen category to category, it was about $ 4.95, well above of what is charged in Spain. In recent weeks the seven euros.
Here the Ministry of Agriculture and Food declared early year the high risk of aviar flu and activated An order that applied preventive measures in the most exposed areas. At that time, the EU Official Gazette warned that Germany, France, Italy, Hungary, Poland and Portugal had notified outbreaks.
Where does the demand come from? In its last analysis of the market the Toledo Business Federation (Fedeto) a determining factor to understand the drift of prices in Spain: demand, both the national and the arrival of outside our borders. “Egg consumption remains high in homes and in industry”, Precise The collective, which appreciates a general climb in the contributions of all sizes, especially L and M.
“Export is maintained to European center countries, where diminished production does not serve to meet the needs of demand,” duck. According to the Spanish Association of Egg Producers (ASEPRHU), at least in recent years Between 15 and 20% From the table eggs of Spain they have ended up exporting. Their main destinations: France, Portugal and the Netherlands.
And the United States? In full “ovoflation” The US is looking for different ways of satisfying its demand and lowering prices, which happens in part, according to I recently advanced The New York Timesto bring them from abroad. A few weeks ago the newspaper said that the US is already probing several countries to ensure the short -term supply, although without specifying which.
The largest source of eggs imported to the country is its neighbor Canadafollowed by Netherlands and United Kingdom. Recently the CNN chain pointed out, however, that one of the country’s great support is now being Türkiye, which plans to export 420 million From eggs to the US this year, a record mark.
And what about Spain? The flow of eggs between the US and the EU is usually scarce and in fact, EFE clarifiesthe US authorities allow only the entry of European egg in the shell for transformation into ovoproduct, not for direct consumption. In the specific case of Spain, exports to the US barely pass the 100 tons per year, which represents only 0.1% of the export volume of Spain, more focused on the European Union.
With all the newspaper Last minute I pointed A few days ago, Spanish products are preparing to send eggs to the US after verifying that the US has “shown interest” in their product. Moreover, he assures that in an internal circular Federovo claims to be making efforts to process export certificates. In 2015, in a similar situation, the US resorted to the EU, although the sector ensures that the scenario is different today, with a solid domestic market.
Images | Alex Barth (Flickr) and Open Grid Scheduler / Grid Engine (Flickr)