UK Egg Statistics - Second Quarter 2009

UK - The throughput of eggs through UK packing stations in the second quarter (Q2) of 2009 was 6.13 million cases, marginally higher than the same period of last year. Cage eggs still account for more than half of the market although the share continues to fall, while free-range production now accounts for more than 37 per cent of the eggs produced in the UK.
calendar icon 3 August 2009
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The latest figures for the second quarter (Q2) were published by the UK Department of Environment Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) at the end of July. Among the highlights of the report are:

  • At 6.126 million cases [1 case = 360 eggs], packing station throughput in the UK for Q2 2009 was just 0.2 per cent lower than the same period of last year – the first fall since the upward trend that started in Q1 2008.
  • Compared to the same period of 2008, Q2 production showed a fall for England and Wales but while output rose in Scotland and it was steady for Northern Ireland.
  • The analysis of packing station output by production type shows some significant trends:
    • Of all UK eggs in Q2 2009, 54.1 per cent (3.312 million cases) were from caged birds, compared to 58.6 per cent in the same period last year.
    • Free-range eggs (2.304 million cases) now account for 37.6 per cent of all eggs produced. This compares with 31.7 per cent in Q1 2008.
    • At 260,000 cases, organic production provides 4.2 per cent of UK egg output. A year ago, organic eggs accounted for six per cent of the market.
    • At 250,000 cases, barn eggs account for 4.1 per cent of production, up slightly from the 3.7 per cent a year previously.
  • The average packer-to-producer prices was 0.7 per cent higher in Q2 2009 than the same period in 2008, further evidence that the rate of price rises has slowed considerably. The weighted average price was 73.9 pence per dozen.
    • The average cage egg prices in Q2 was 55.7 pence per dozen.
    • Free-range eggs prices averaged 92.0 pence in Q2, down from 93.2 pence in the same period of 2008, when prices peaked.
    • The average price of barn eggs was 72.3 pence per dozen, as prices flatten off following a rising trend that started in 2006.
  • UK egg processors bought 1.329 million cases of eggs in Q2, well down on the 1.535 million cases in the same quarter last year.
  • Processed egg output was 23,212 tonnes for the quarter, 17 per cent less than in Q2 2008.
  • The amount of liquid and frozen whole eggs was 16,612 tonnes, down from 19,886 tonnes in the same quarter last year, while other eggs products were up to 6,600 tonnes from 8,097 tonnes.
  • Data on egg trade is available for the first four months of the year. The figures vary considerably from month to month.
    • Shell egg imports in April 2009 (compared to April 2008) were 364,200 cases (-15.0 per cent), while exports were 14,800 cases (-77.5 per cent). The trade gap in shell eggs has increased since February 2009.
    • Egg products imports for the month were 328,900 cases (+36.8 per cent compared to April 2008), while exports were 18,900 (+6.1 per cent).

Further Reading

- You can view the full report by clicking here.
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