UK Egg Statistics – Third Quarter 2011

UK - The throughput of eggs through UK packing stations in the third quarter of 2011 was 4.2 per cent down on the same period of last year, while the average price for the quarter was up almost five per cent.

3 November 2011

3 minute read

Europe

Key points

A total of 6.632 million cases of eggs were packed during the third quarter of 2011.

Free-range and organic eggs accounted for 47 per cent of eggs packed in the UK during quarter 3 of 2011, compared with 46 per cent for the same period the previous year.

The average packer to producer price for all eggs for quarter 3 of 2011, was 69.7 pence per dozen, a 4.9 per cent increase on the same period of 2010.

Commentary

UK packing station throughput by country shows that a total of 5 million cases of eggs were packed in England and Wales during quarter 3 of 2011. 0.9 million cases of eggs were packed in Scotland during quarter 3 of 2011, and 0.7 million cases of eggs were packed in Northern Ireland during quarter 3 of 2011.

UK packing station throughput by type shows that during quarter 3 of 2011, laying cage eggs accounted for 50 per cent, free-range eggs accounted for 43 per cent and barn and organic eggs combined accounted for seven per cent of the total throughput.

The percentage split of graded eggs by size shows that during quarter 3 of 2011, five per cent of throughput were very large eggs, 41 per cent were large eggs, 43 per cent were medium eggs and small eggs accounted for four per cent. Graded seconds accounted for seven per cent of total throughput.

The weighted average 'packer-to-producer' price of all eggs for quarter 3 of 2011 was 69.7 pence per dozen. This was an increase of 4.9 per cent compared to the same period in 2010.

The number of eggs bought by UK processors during quarter 3 of 2011 totalled 1.35 million cases.

UK egg processors produced 26,000 tonnes of egg products in quarter 3 of 2011.

Liquid and frozen eggs accounted for 69 per cent of the total production which for quarter 3 of 2011 was 18,000 tonnes.

The latest trade data shows that during the period January-August 2011, the UK imported 2.3 million cases of shell eggs, a fall of 32 per cent on the same period last year. Exports of shell eggs for the same period totalled 414,000 cases, which was a 12 per cent increase on the same period during 2010.

UK imports of egg products for the period January-August 2011 stood at 1.8 million cases, an 8.1 per cent fall on the same period last year. Exports of egg products for the period totalled 90,000 cases, which represents an eight per cent increase on exports during the same period of 2010.