K A S H R U T . C O M_©

March 7, 2025 from YNet:

"Israeli egg importers face skyrocketing prices in Europe and the US, while local production struggles post-war; Agriculture Ministry insists there will be enough eggs for the holiday, but distributors warn of significant shortages

"Although 90% of the eggs sold in Israel are produced locally, the Agriculture and Food Security Ministry has opened a quota for importing 105 million eggs to meet the increased demand during Passover, a holiday rich in egg-based dishes. “The price control on eggs keeps their cost in Israel relatively low compared to Western countries,” the Agriculture Ministry told Ynet.

"“Today, there’s no doubt eggs in Israel are among the cheapest in the world.” According to egg distributors, who are also importers, the low consumer price in Israel, which is dictated by price-control regulations, creates challenges for importing eggs, as prices in Europe have risen sharply.

"The steep price increase in the U.S. is attributed to a 12% shortage caused by avian flu outbreaks and unchecked price hikes by suppliers in a country without price controls. The chaos in the U.S. egg market has also affected Europe, which has been grappling with avian flu for years.

"Their prices have risen more moderately than in the U.S., not only due to the disease but also because of reforms requiring more spacious poultry coops and increased exports to the U.S., which have driven up costs for Israeli distributors purchasing from European suppliers.

"Israel's Poultry Council head Shmuel Levit, added: 'I believe there will be enough eggs for Passover, as distributors won’t risk failing to supply retailers. However, importation has been unprofitable for months, and it has gotten worse over the past two months.'"