The latest figures for the third quarter (Q3) were published by the UK Department of Environment Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) at the end of October. Among the highlights of the report are:

• At 6.111 million cases [1 case = 360 eggs], packing station throughput in the UK for Q3 2009 was 2.1 per cent lower than the same period of last year.
• Compared to the same period of 2008, Q3 production showed a fall for England and Wales and Northern Ireland, while output rose in Scotland.
• The analysis of packing station output by production type shows some significant trends:
  • Of all UK eggs in Q3 2009, 53.2 per cent (3.249 million cases) were from caged birds, compared to 58.0 per cent in the same period last year.
  • Free-range eggs (2.331 million cases) now account for 38.1 per cent of all eggs produced. This compares with 32.8 per cent in Q3 2008.
  • At 244,000 cases, organic production provides 4.0 per cent of UK egg output. A year ago, organic eggs accounted for 5.2 per cent of the market.
  • At 287,000 cases, barn eggs account for 4.7 per cent of production, up from the 4.1 per cent a year previously.
• The average packer-to-producer prices was 0.8 per cent higher in Q3 2009 than the same period in 2008. The weighted average price was 72.3 pence per dozen, down from 73.9 pence per dozen in the previous quarter.
  • The average cage egg prices in Q3 was 54.4 pence per dozen, up 0.4 per cent on the same quarter of 2008 but below the previous quarter.
  • Free-range eggs prices averaged 89.9 pence in Q3, down from 92.0 pence in the previous quarter.
  • The average price of barn eggs was 71.9 pence per dozen, down from 72.3 pence in the previous quarter.
• UK egg processors bought 1.231 million cases of eggs in Q3, well down on the 1.527 million cases in the same quarter last year.
• Processed egg output was 22,193 tonnes for the quarter, 18 per cent below Q3 2008.
• The amount of liquid and frozen whole eggs was 14,546 tonnes, down from 19,131 tonnes in the same quarter last year, while other eggs products were down at 7,647 tonnes from 7,922 tonnes.
• Data on egg trade is available for the first eight months of the year. The figures vary considerably from month to month.
  • Shell egg imports in August 2009 (compared to August 2008) were 322,100 cases (+1.1 per cent), while exports were 45,200 cases (-6.5 per cent). The trade gap in shell eggs is below the peak in April and May this year.
  • Egg products imports for August 2009 were 198,200 cases (-12.5 per cent compared to August 2008), while exports were 11,800 (-35.9 per cent).

Further Reading

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You can view the full report by clicking here.