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The United States responds to the 'egg shortage' w

Date锛�2025-03-04 22:19Editer锛歛dminRead锛�锛�

In supermarkets in California, the price of a dozen regular eggs exceeds $9, which is equivalent to approximately RMB 5.5 per egg. The avian influenza outbreak that began in 2022 has resulted in the death of over 166 million poultry in the United States, directly triggering the most severe egg supply crisis in nearly 40 years. On February 26, 2025, the US Department of Agriculture announced that it would spend $1 billion to implement a comprehensive prevention and control plan, attempting to contain the spread of the virus and stabilize market prices.
Multiple dilemmas behind the soaring prices
According to data from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average price of large A-grade eggs in cities reached $4.95 per dozen in January 2025, doubling from the same period last year. The continuous spread of avian influenza has led to a significant decrease in the stock of laying hens, with 17.2 million chickens being culled due to infection in the last two months of 2024 alone. Even more concerning is that avian influenza has spread to European countries such as Germany, further highlighting the fragility of the global supply chain.
In addition to the pandemic, domestic policies in the United States have also intensified market volatility. The implementation of "cage free chicken laws" in multiple states has led to increased production costs, and the Trump administration's imposition of tariffs on Canadian egg imports has caused the United States to lose its largest source of overseas supply. Although Türkiye announced that it would export 420 million eggs to the United States, this amount only accounts for 5% of the monthly output of the United States, which is a drop in the bucket.
Government response and market game
The US Department of Agriculture's $1 billion plan includes upgrading biosecurity measures on farms, providing subsidies to affected farmers, and increasing investment in vaccine research and development. Minister of Agriculture Brooke Rollins admitted that the market is unlikely to recover stability in the short term, and it is expected that the demand peak before Easter will drive prices to continue rising, while supply recovery may have to wait until after summer.
It is worth noting that egg producers have made huge profits during the crisis. Karl Mayer Foods, which controls one-fifth of the US market, saw an 82% year-on-year increase in revenue and a 500% surge in net profit in the fourth quarter of 2024. The phenomenon of "consumers suffering losses and businesses making huge profits" has sparked social dissatisfaction. Democratic Congressman Warren publicly accused egg companies of "using shortages to inflate prices" and called on the Federal Trade Commission to investigate industry monopolies.
Cross border smuggling and survival wisdom
Faced with high priced eggs, American consumers are seeking alternative solutions. There is a phenomenon of Mexican tourists bringing eggs into border cities. According to US customs data, the number of eggs seized at the southern border increased by 29% year-on-year from October 2024 to February 2025. Despite official warnings that illegal eggs may carry avian influenza virus, the public is willing to take risks to obtain affordable egg products.
Some families choose to raise chickens in their backyard, and the business volume of chicken rental company Rent the Chicken has surged, with the rental price of hens reaching $500 per six months. This return to traditional farming models unexpectedly exposes the drawbacks of over industrialization in American agriculture - large farms struggle to quickly restore production capacity under the impact of the pandemic, while small farms in Canada maintain market stability through flexibility.
Future outlook: Balancing efficiency and resilience
This' egg shortage 'is not only a public health crisis, but also a profound questioning of modern agricultural models. Experts point out that the United States needs to seek a balance between large-scale production and risk resistance, maintaining efficiency advantages while establishing a decentralized supply network. As uncertainty researcher Taleb has pointed out, true resilience comes from a reverence for risk and redundant design.
With the gradual implementation of government intervention measures, it is still unknown whether the market can return to normal before the summer. But what can be confirmed is that this egg price storm has become a unique window to observe the fragility of the US economy and political games.