Highlights

• At 6.242 million cases [1 case = 360 eggs], packing station throughput in the UK for Q3 was 7% higher than the same period of last year, continuing the upward trend for 2008. The figures for England & Wales and Northern Ireland were more-or-less unchanged; the increase took place mainly in Scotland.
• Almost 58% of UK eggs came from caged birds, the total number being up slightly on a year ago. Free-range accounted for 33% of all eggs produced, organic for 5% and barn eggs for 4% of the market. The number of organic eggs tumbled, reflecting recent difficulties in the UK market for organic egg producers.
• Average packer-to-producer prices were 16.9% higher in Q3 than the same period in 2007 as the trend towards rising prices shows signs of slowing down. The weighted average price was 71.7 pence per dozen. Cage egg prices were 17.9% more than those of Q3 2007 at 54 pence per dozen. Barn eggs and free-range eggs prices were 71.2 and 91.7 pence, respectively.
• UK egg processors output was 27,053 tonnes for the quarter, down 6.3% compared to Q3 last year but only marginally down on the preceding quarter.
• At 564,000 cases, UK shell egg exports for the period September 2007 to August 2008 continued an upward trend but trade is dominated by imports of 4.585 million cases.
• The situation is similar for egg products: the 12-month moving average for exports was up to 225,000 cases, while imports were 3.658 million cases.

Further Reading

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