UK Egg Statistics - First Quarter 2011

UK - The throughput of eggs through UK packing stations in the first quarter of 2011 was 5.5 per cent down on the same period of last year, while the average price for the quarter was seven per cent lower. For the first time, less than half of the eggs produced were from birds kept in cages.

5 May 2011

3 minute read

Europe

Key points

6.854 million cases of eggs were packed during the first quarter of 2011.

Free-range and organic eggs accounted for 47 per cent of eggs packed in the UK during quarter 1 of 2011, compared with 43 per cent for the same period the previous year.

The average packer to producer price for all eggs for quarter 1 of 2011, was 69.7 pence per dozen, a 6.9 per cent decrease on the same period of 2010.

Commentary

UK packing station throughput by country shows that a total of 5.1 million cases of eggs were packed in England and Wales during quarter 1 of 2011. 1.1 million cases of eggs were packed in Scotland during quarter 1 of 2011 and 0.7 million cases of eggs were packed in Northern Ireland during quarter 1 of 2011.

UK packing station throughput by type shows that during quarter 1 of 2011, laying cage eggs accounted for 49 per cent, free-range eggs accounted for 44 per cent and barn and organic eggs combined accounted for 7.4 per cent of the total throughput.

The percentage split of graded eggs by size shows that during quarter 1 of 2011, 5.2 per cent of throughput were very large eggs, 44.2 per cent were large eggs, 40.5 per cent were medium eggs and small eggs accounted for 3.1 per cent. Graded seconds accounted for 7.1 per cent of total throughput.

The weighted average 'packer to producer' price of all eggs for quarter 1 of 2011 was 69.7 pence per dozen. This was a decrease of 6.9 per cent compared to the same period in 2010.

The number of eggs bought by UK processors during quarter 1 of 2011 totalled 1.3 million cases.

UK egg processors produced nearly 24,000 tonnes of egg products in quarter 1 of 2011. Liquid and frozen eggs accounted for 65 per cent of the total production which for quarter 1 of 2011 was 15,700 tonnes.

The latest trade data shows that during the period January-February 2011, the UK imported 346,000 cases of shell eggs, a fall of 56 per cent on the same period last year. Exports of shell eggs for the same period totalled 114,000 cases, which was a 24 per cent rise on the same period during 2010.

UK imports of egg products for the period January-February 2011 stood at 401,000 cases, an 8.3 per cent fall on the same period last year. Exports of egg products for the same period totalled 25,000 cases, which represents a 20 per cent increase on exports during the same period of 2010.