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Yahoo
24-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
To help solve its egg price crisis, America is turning to Turkey (the country)
America's egg shortage has led US businesses to turn to Turkey. Not the bird, the country. Turkey plans to export 420 million eggs to the United States this year, the most ever, according to the Egg Producers Central Union in Turkey. The ramped-up exports come as avian flu has killed more than 140 million egg-laying birds in the United States since 2022, and 17 million alone in November and December. Fewer birds means fewer eggs — and higher prices. 'Bird flu is the main reason of increasing export capacity,' said Ibrahim Afyon, chairman of the Egg Producers Central Union in Turkey. A carton of a dozen large Grade A eggs hit an average of $4.95 last month, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Costco and Trader Joe's are limiting egg purchases per customer and Waffle House is charging a 50-cent surcharge per egg. It will take months to replace lost flocks, and the US Department of Agriculture is forecasting an additional 20% increase in egg prices this year. The price of eggs rose 15.2% in January and are up 53% year over year, according to January's Consumer Price Index. US businesses have taken it upon themselves to look for supply beyond our borders. And Turkey is the only country the United States imports eggs from, according to the American Farm Bureau Federation. Still, experts warn the increased egg imports won't make much of a dent in America's egg shortage. 'While this is enough to offset some productions losses, it won't provide much support if HPAI (avian flu) continues at its current pace,' said Bernt Nelson, an economist at the American Farm Bureau Federation. The US produces more than 7.5 billion eggs per year on average, according to the American Egg Board. That number will fall this year as the avian flu continues to claim the lives of more birds. 'We support the temporary import of egg products to help ease the strain on the US egg supply as we navigate this challenging time of continued highly pathogenic avian influenza detections,' said Chad Gregory, president and CEO of United Egg Producers. 'Like everyone, we want to solutions to this situation.' One solution, at least for now, is importing more eggs. In 2024, the United States imported 71 million eggs from Turkey, according to the USDA. This year's imports will be nearly six times that based on the Egg Producers Central Union's estimates. By July, Turkey will deliver 240 million eggs to the United States, with the rest coming by the end of the year. Turkey is the fifth-largest egg exporter in the world behind the Netherlands, United States, Poland and Germany. In 2023, Turkey exported $411 million worth of eggs worldwide, according to the Observatory of Economic Complexity. Turkey's export volume to the United States this year will total $37 million, according to the Egg Producers Central Union in Turkey. Doug Corwin, who had to cull his flock of 99,000 ducks on his farm in Long Island after the virus was detected, says it's time to start vaccinating birds against the virus. Last week the USDA issued a conditional license for an avian flu vaccine for chickens. Zoetis, the manufacturer behind the vaccine, said the 'license was granted on the demonstration of safety, purity, and reasonable expectation of efficacy based on serology data.' But vaccinations create a literal chicken and egg problem: Although many egg producers favor vaccinating chickens, poultry producers worry vaccinations would create trade problems. If a country starts vaccinating its birds, the virus could be seen as endemic, and it can be hard to detect the virus in inoculated birds. Countries could become less eager to buy poultry from the United States, which is the world's largest poultry producer and second-largest exporter of poultry meat, according to the USDA. Meanwhile, the White House says it is working on a plan to combat the avian flu. On Sunday, Kevin Hassett, the Director of the White House Economic Council, said on CBS' 'Face the Nation' that the plan involves biosecurity, medication and a perimeter. 'Having a smart perimeter is what we're working on, and we're finalizing the ideas about how to do that with the best scientists in government. And that's the kind of thing that should have happened a year ago, and if it had, then egg prices would be, you know, a lot better than they are now,' Hassett said on 'Face the Nation.' Experts in the agricultural community say more funding and staffing is needed in research and surveillance of the virus. This comes at a time when the Trump administration is doing the opposite. There have been thousands of reported layoffs at agencies including the CDC and USDA. 'If ever there was a time when it was absolutely critical to not infuse more chaos into the system, this is it,' said Rebecca Carriere Christofferson, an associate professor of pathobiological studies at the LSU School of Veterinary Medicine. Earlier this week, the USDA had to revoke termination letters it sent to workers supporting the bird flu response. CNN's Isil Sariyuce and Maria Sole Campinoti contributed to this report.
CNN
24-02-2025
- Business
- CNN
To help solve its egg price crisis, America is turning to Turkey (the country)
America's egg shortage has led US businesses to turn to Turkey. Not the bird, the country. Turkey plans to export 420 million eggs to the United States this year, the most ever, according to the Egg Producers Central Union in Turkey. The ramped-up exports come as avian flu has killed more than 140 million egg-laying birds in the United States since 2022, and 17 million alone in November and December. Fewer birds means fewer eggs — and higher prices. 'Bird flu is the main reason of increasing export capacity,' said Ibrahim Afyon, chairman of the Egg Producers Central Union in Turkey. A carton of a dozen large Grade A eggs hit an average of $4.95 last month, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Costco and Trader Joe's are limiting egg purchases per customer and Waffle House is charging a 50-cent surcharge per egg. It will take months to replace lost flocks, and the US Department of Agriculture is forecasting an additional 20% increase in egg prices this year. The price of eggs rose 15.2% in January and are up 53% year over year, according to January's Consumer Price Index. US businesses have taken it upon themselves to look for supply beyond our borders. And Turkey is the only country the United States imports eggs from, according to the American Farm Bureau Federation. Still, experts warn the increased egg imports won't make much of a dent in America's egg shortage. 'While this is enough to offset some productions losses, it won't provide much support if HPAI (avian flu) continues at its current pace,' said Bernt Nelson, an economist at the American Farm Bureau Federation. The US produces more than 7.5 billion eggs per year on average, according to the American Egg Board. That number will fall this year as the avian flu continues to claim the lives of more birds. 'We support the temporary import of egg products to help ease the strain on the US egg supply as we navigate this challenging time of continued highly pathogenic avian influenza detections,' said Chad Gregory, president and CEO of United Egg Producers. 'Like everyone, we want to solutions to this situation.' One solution, at least for now, is importing more eggs. In 2024, the United States imported 71 million eggs from Turkey, according to the USDA. This year's imports will be nearly six times that based on the Egg Producers Central Union's estimates. By July, Turkey will deliver 240 million eggs to the United States, with the rest coming by the end of the year. Turkey is the fifth-largest egg exporter in the world behind the Netherlands, United States, Poland and Germany. In 2023, Turkey exported $411 million worth of eggs worldwide, according to the Observatory of Economic Complexity. Turkey's export volume to the United States this year will total $37 million, according to the Egg Producers Central Union in Turkey. Doug Corwin, who had to cull his flock of 99,000 ducks on his farm in Long Island after the virus was detected, says it's time to start vaccinating birds against the virus. Last week the USDA issued a conditional license for an avian flu vaccine for chickens. Zoetis, the manufacturer behind the vaccine, said the 'license was granted on the demonstration of safety, purity, and reasonable expectation of efficacy based on serology data.' But vaccinations create a literal chicken and egg problem: Although many egg producers favor vaccinating chickens, poultry producers worry vaccinations would create trade problems. If a country starts vaccinating its birds, the virus could be seen as endemic, and it can be hard to detect the virus in inoculated birds. Countries could become less eager to buy poultry from the United States, which is the world's largest poultry producer and second-largest exporter of poultry meat, according to the USDA. Meanwhile, the White House says it is working on a plan to combat the avian flu. On Sunday, Kevin Hassett, the Director of the White House Economic Council, said on CBS' 'Face the Nation' that the plan involves biosecurity, medication and a perimeter. 'Having a smart perimeter is what we're working on, and we're finalizing the ideas about how to do that with the best scientists in government. And that's the kind of thing that should have happened a year ago, and if it had, then egg prices would be, you know, a lot better than they are now,' Hassett said on 'Face the Nation.' Experts in the agricultural community say more funding and staffing is needed in research and surveillance of the virus. This comes at a time when the Trump administration is doing the opposite. There have been thousands of reported layoffs at agencies including the CDC and USDA. 'If ever there was a time when it was absolutely critical to not infuse more chaos into the system, this is it,' said Rebecca Carriere Christofferson, an associate professor of pathobiological studies at the LSU School of Veterinary Medicine. Earlier this week, the USDA had to revoke termination letters it sent to workers supporting the bird flu response. CNN's Isil Sariyuce and Maria Sole Campinoti contributed to this report.
Yahoo
20-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
US Takes Action To Alleviate Egg Shortage Issues
In a move aimed at stabilizing the American egg market, Turkey has begun sending over 15,000 metric tons of eggs to the U.S. The shipment, which began in February, will carry on until July, as the Egg Producers Central Union chairman Ibrahim Afyon told Reuters. This largescale shipment equates to 700 containers of eggs being sent. The shortage, largely caused by the ongoing avian flu outbreak, has prompted the U.S. to seek alternative sources of supply. Turkey was a natural fit, with it being one of the world's top 10 egg exporters. This agreement is expected to generate approximately $26 million in export revenue for Turkey. The bird flu was first documented within the U.S. in Texas in March 2024. Since then, it's spread to 17 different states. This influx of eggs from Turkey is expected to ease the rising cost of eggs, which has particularly impacted major retailers like Costco and Walmart, where prices have surged by as much as 60%, according to E-Noticies. However, the price relief is expected to take time, with consumers likely to feel the impact once inventory levels are adjusted within stores. Read more: 14 Egg Hacks We Wish We Knew Sooner Costs vary from state to state, of course, but a significant factor contributing to the increase in egg prices overall is the exponential loss of chickens across the U.S. The U.S. Consumer Price Index revealed that from January to February 2025, egg prices surged 15.24% (via Y Charts). However, the CDC reports that the bird flu outbreak poses little risk to public health, with only one death recorded. If you'd like to know more about how it could affect you, check out Mashed's explanation of what bird flu is and how it affects food. Turkey hasn't exported eggs to the U.S. since January 2023. Although Turkey should now offer some relief, the distance between the two countries further underscores the need for proper handling and well-maintained temperatures during this large shipment. Should the delivery go smoothly, it could potentially pave the way for a sustained egg-trade relationship between Turkey and the U.S. Read the original article on Mashed.
Euronews
20-02-2025
- Business
- Euronews
Why is Turkey sending thousands of tonnes of eggs to US buyers?
Turkey has started to export masses of eggs to the US this month in response to an outbreak of bird flu across the Atlantic. "A total of 15,000 tonnes of eggs - equivalent to 700 containers - will be shipped," Ibrahim Afyon, chairman of the Egg Producers Central Union in Turkey, told Reuters. "The export will take place through our member companies with the required authorizations, while two firms will coordinate the process," Afyon said. The shipments began this month and will continue until July, under a preliminary agreement, he added. The Turkey-US deal is expected to generate around $26 million (€24.9mn) in export revenue, said Afyon. Bird flu The US is currently working to tackle an outbreak of H5N1 avian influenza, also known as bird flu, which is affecting domestic egg supply. Although bird flu has been present in the US for years, the virus began to infect dairy cattle in 2024. The US' Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) still maintains that bird flu represents a low risk to the general public, although one human patient has died from the virus. With farmers slaughtering hens to limit the spread of the disease, supermarkets have faced egg shortages and prices have been soaring. In 2024, egg prices rose 65% and then another 15% in the month of January alone. It's estimated that about 162 million chickens, turkeys and other birds have been wiped out by the flu since 2022. DOGE layoffs To complicate matters further, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) said on Wednesday that it had accidentally sacked several agency employees working on the state's response to the outbreak. The job cuts were part of a wider plan to cut government costs, spearheaded by the new Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) under the leadership of Elon Musk.
Zawya
20-02-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Turkey to export 15,000 tonnes of eggs to US to ease bird flu disruptions
ISTANBUL/CHICAGO: Turkey has begun exporting around 15,000 tonnes of eggs to the United States as a devastating outbreak of bird flu is slashing U.S. production and sending prices soaring, a leading sector official said on Wednesday. Deaths of millions of laying hens imperil U.S. President Donald Trump's pledge to bring down everyday costs, as grocery stores ration supplies and restaurants raise prices for egg dishes. Shipments to the U.S. from Turkey began this month and will continue until July, said Ibrahim Afyon, chairman of the Egg Producers Central Union in Turkey. "The export will take place through our member companies with the required authorizations, while two firms will coordinate the process," Afyon said. "A total of 15,000 tonnes of eggs — equivalent to 700 containers — will be shipped," he added. The U.S. has been working to contain bird flu, which was first detected in dairy cattle in Texas last March and has since spread to more than 970 herds in 17 states. The virus has infected nearly 70 people since April, primarily farm workers exposed to infected poultry or cattle. One person who was infected died. The outbreak in poultry began in 2022 and has wiped out about 162 million chickens, turkeys and other birds, according to U.S. data. A surge in recent infections is fuelling egg shortages. "We support the temporary import of egg products to help ease the strain on the U.S. egg supply," said Chad Gregory, CEO of United Egg Producers, a cooperative that represents U.S. egg farmers. Faced with supply constraints, U.S. companies have sought alternative import markets, leading to negotiations with Turkish producers, Afyon said. The deal is expected to generate around $26 million in export revenue, he added. Turkey ranks among the world's top 10 egg exporters, Afyon said. The U.S. Department of Agriculture had no comment on imports. The agency is rebuilding a stockpile of bird flu vaccines for poultry and granted a conditional license to animal health company Zoetis for a vaccine for chickens. USDA has not yet authorized the use of vaccines. (Reporting by Ceyda Caglayan in Istanbul and Tom Polansek in Chicago, Writing by Ece Toksabay; Editing by Jonathan Spicer, Alexandra Hudson and Bill Berkrot)
