2017 US Egg Exports Predicted Higher After South Korea's Bird Flu Outbreaks
US - December data for table egg layers showed a record number of eggs produced per 100 chickens, while the number of layers reached its second highest level, according to the latest Livestock, Dairy, and Poultry Outlook from the US Department of Agriculture's Economic Research Service.
7 February 2017
3 minute read
By: The forecast for the first quarter of 2017 was increased by 10 million dozen eggs.
December shell egg prices saw a late seasonal rally that peaked near Christmas.Typically, egg prices increase before Thanksgiving; however, this year’s prices were at multi-year lows until December, when daily prices nearly doubled. Prices have since declined in the second week of January.
The egg export forecast for 2017 was increased 30 million dozen eggs, largely due to an outbreak of avian influenza in South Korea that increased the expected level of export demand for US eggs and egg product.
Over 30 million birds have been recently culled in Korea, including an estimated 33 per cent of the layer stock and 52 per cent of the total layer breeding stock. As a result, the Korean Government implemented a tariff rate quota of 35,000 metric tons for shell eggs, with a zero tariff until June 30, 2017, and air freight subsidies will initially be available from the Government.
The Korean and US Governments finalised a protocol to facilitate the export of US shell eggs to Korea on 8 January 2017. Until 2015, when avian influenza disrupted US egg production, the US held a stable market share above 50 per cent of Korea’s egg imports, a market that included cooked or dry products.
