EU hatching egg exports start to rise: Iraq and Russia emerge as key buyers

To put the situation into perspective, EU hatching egg exports were above 115,000 tonnes in 2021, but fell by 10-15% annually in 2022 and 2023 due to high competition and falling prices. As a result, EXPORT volumes fell to 94,000 tonnes. The Netherlands and Belgium, the main hatching egg producers, are highly dependent on export supplies, with around 80% of Dutch and almost half of Belgian eggs exported.

The unstable geopolitical situation in the Middle East, product quality issues and the decline of breeder flocks due to avian influenza are supporting the recovery of the sector. EU hatching egg exports are expected to remain stable in the coming years as global demand for affordable poultry MEAT increases and the pace of growth of the global breeder flock remains insufficient.