Turkiye steps up egg exports to US amid flu outbreak

Turkiye has increased its egg exports to the United States in response to an avian flu outbreak that has severely affected the America poultry sector.

With nearly 150 million birds culled in the US to contain the H5N1 virus and egg prices rising by as much as 95% year-on-year, the demand for eggs has surged, creating an opportunity for the transcontinental country to step in and fill the supply gap.

According to İbrahim Afyon, president of the Egg Producers' Central Association (YUM-BİR), Turkish authorities have approved several companies to export packaged eggs to the US.

"Currently, 15,000 tonnes of eggs requested by the US will be split among four companies, although more firms may join the export program," Afyon told local media.

The 15,000 tonnes of eggs destined for the US will be shipped in phases until July this year. Officials are confident that the increase in production capacity will allow Turkiye to maintain the 200,000-tonne export volume reached in 2024 across its 55 existing markets.

Turkiye's capacity to meet US demand stem from its strong position in the global egg industry. The country, which ranks amongst the top 10 egg producers globally, netted less than $400 million in foreign exchange in 2018 via exports of one-third of its output to select countries. By 2024, its exports have reached 55 countries and generated $463 million, with the sector targeting $500 million in 2025.

Unlike many countries that have suffered heavy production losses due to widespread avian flu and other poultry diseases, Turkiye has largely contained outbreaks despite being located on a major migratory bird route.