Egg prices continually rising

In February 2010, the average price of eggs was 11 percent higher than one year ago. The price of consumption eggs has risen notably in recent months. This is predominantly caused by increased exports to Germany.

Egg prices and food prices

More eggs exported

Last year, Dutch exports of consumption eggs to Germany grew by over 2 billion to nearly 7.5 billion. If exports increase, prices go up and occasionally Dutch consumers were faced with empty supermarket shelves. The shortage of eggs in Germany was the direct result of a ban on battery cages introduced on 1 January 2010. As battery cages were dismantled, the egg-production process stalled. In the Netherlands and the rest of the European Union, the ban on battery cages will take effect from 1 January 2012.

Egg exports

Food cheaper

Food was 1.4 percent cheaper in February 2010 than in February 2009. Food prices increased in recent years, but early 2009 the upward trend was interrupted. Global market prices partly account for lower food prices. At the end of last year, a supermarket price war was launched. Egg prices in February were more than 20 percent higher than in 2006. The price increase of food articles remained confined to 8 percent.

Average price chicken eggs

Egg price 15 euro cents

The average price of eggs in the Netherlands was 15 euro cents in 2009. Prices were only higher in 2003 and 2004, when the country was struck by avian flu. In the 1950s and 60s, the average price of an egg was 8 euro cents.

Koen Link