In the review period 2000 to 2010 - during which global shell egg exports more than doubled from just under one million tonnes to more than two million tonnes - in only two years did exports from Africa exceed 10,000 tonnes, while shipments from Oceania failed to amount to more than 5,000 tonnes a year (Table 1).

Largest exporter in Africa, with 5,700 tonnes in 2010, was South Africa with Zimbabwe and Mozambique as its main customers.

Morocco exported almost 1,800 tonnes in that year, mainly to Mauritania.

In Oceania, the only significant exporter was New Zealand shipping almost 3,650 tonnes in 2010, the bulk going to Fiji and Papua New Guinea.

Although shell egg imports into Africa have doubled since 2000, between 2007 and 2010 they have tended to stabilise at around 50,000 tonnes (Table 2). In 2010, more than half the total was purchased by two countries, Angola and Libya.

Annual shell egg imports into Oceania amount to less than 3,000 tonnes a year, with Samoa being the main customer (Table 2). Australia does not permit imports of table eggs, purchases being restricted to hatching eggs or eggs used for pharmaceutical purposes.

Africa and Oceania’s involvement in the trade in dried and liquid egg products is minimal (Tables 3, 4, 5 and 6).

May 2013