Recently, due to bird flu leading to an egg shortage, the United States has started importing eggs from multiple countries. Following Turkey, a spokesperson from the Indonesian Ministry of Agriculture announced on Tuesday (March 25) that Indonesia is prepared to export as many as 1.6 million eggs to the US each month, as Indonesia has surplus egg production.
Over the past three years, a severe outbreak of avian flu has resulted in the culling of over 100 million egg-laying hens across the United States. In the past year alone, egg prices in the US have surged by 65%, with projected further increases of 41% by 2025.
President Trump expressed to the media on Monday before a cabinet meeting that egg prices are soaring, making them nearly unattainable.
On Tuesday, spokesperson for the Indonesian Ministry of Agriculture, Moch. Arief Cahyono, stated in a release, “The shortage of stock in other countries could be an opportunity for our exports. One of the export plans is to export to the United States.”
As part of a $1.87 billion strategic initiative to lower egg prices and address supply shortages, the US has imported hundreds of millions of eggs from countries like South Korea, Turkey, and others. A representative from Turkey’s egg industry mentioned on February 19 that Turkey has begun exporting approximately 15,000 tons of eggs to the US.
US Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins mentioned, “We are talking about importing hundreds of millions of eggs in the short term.”
Farmers from Poland and Lithuania have also reported interest from US diplomatic personnel in seeking more eggs. President of the Polish National Poultry and Feed Producers Association, Katarzyna Gawronska, recently stated, “Many countries are facing egg shortages.”
“The key question is what financial conditions the Americans will provide,” he added.
Last month, a trailer carrying about 100,000 eggs was stolen in Pennsylvania. The suspects have not yet been apprehended by the authorities.
Last Friday, a free egg distribution event in New York left hundreds disappointed as 100 crates of eggs were snatched up within 10 minutes. Some individuals even attempted to smuggle eggs from Mexico, where egg prices are much cheaper.
During an interview with reporters, Rollins mentioned that once US poultry farmers are able to increase their supply, egg imports will cease.
“When our poultry flocks reproduce and egg production is back in full swing, we hope that in a few months’ time, we will shift towards domestic egg production and get those eggs onto shelves,” she stated.