At the beginning of August, the Singapore Food Agency (SFA) ordered the recall of eggs imported from a farm in Ukraine, after detecting the presence of Salmonella Enteritidis. According to market sources, the ban will only be lifted once the farm has rectified the contamination issue.
Ukraine ranks 12th in the world for egg exports, accounting for 1.6% ($42.4 million) of exported fresh eggs globally, according to an industry source. Furthermore, as of Q1 2023, egg exports from Ukraine have surpassed 52,690 tonnes, up by 80% compared to the same period in 2018, according to official data released by the State Fiscal Service of Ukraine. The UAE and Iraq account for half of the egg exports from Ukraine, with the UAE alone consuming 14,000 tonnes (worth $12.7 million). Considering the EU imports from Ukraine, if the strain proves to be a real threat, and other countries impose a ban on eggs from Ukraine, it could impact export levels into the EU and support prices.
Source: Mintec
Mintec price data indicates the EU egg price decreased during the latest quarter, as the availability of eggs rose due to the effects of Avian Influenza diminishing and a 334% increase in imports from Ukraine. Relatively stable poultry production has resulted in a 16.5% drop in the price of eggs compared to the beginning of the year (based on quarterly data, July vs. January 2023).
