Despite the fact that 90% of the eggs consumed in Israel are produced domestically, the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security has decided to allow the importation of 105 million eggs to meet the increased demand during Pesach, a time when egg-heavy dishes are traditionally prepared. “The price control on eggs keeps their cost in Israel relatively low compared to Western countries,” the Agriculture Ministry told Ynet.
“Today, there’s no doubt eggs in Israel are among the cheapest in the world.” According to egg distributors, who also act as importers, the low consumer prices in Israel, regulated by price control laws, create challenges when attempting to import eggs, especially as prices in Europe have soared.
“We want to sell at a fair price for consumers and are not interested in removing price controls on this staple product, but we also don’t want to lose money on imports,” they explained. In December, reports highlighted surging global egg prices, particularly in the United States. Since then, prices in the U.S. have spiked, with the cost of a dozen eggs rising to as high as $9.60, compared to $3.50–$3.80 in Israel. The significant price hike in the U.S. is primarily attributed to a 12% supply shortage caused by avian flu outbreaks and unchecked price increases by suppliers in a country without price controls. This turmoil in the U.S. egg market has also impacted Europe, which has been facing avian flu issues for years.
Prices in Europe have risen less sharply than in the U.S., due not only to the disease but also to reforms that require more spacious poultry housing and the increased demand from exports to the U.S., which has driven up costs for Israeli distributors who are purchasing from European suppliers. According to EU data, as of February 17, 2025, industrial egg prices in the EU have increased by 10% over the past year, making them the least expensive eggs in the market. However, some EU nations have seen much steeper price increases. For example, the average price for 220 lbs. of industrial eggs in Poland surged by over $85, and in Portugal, it increased by more than $31 between September 2024 and February 2025 — a rise of nearly 40%. Belgium saw a 28% price increase, the Czech Republic 24%, Spain 18%, Poland 17%, Portugal 10%, and France 5%. Conversely, Slovenia and Croatia saw a 10% decrease, while Cyprus reported no price change. In September 2024, Israel ranked 19th or 25th globally in the price of a dozen eggs for consumers, depending on the ranking, out of 80–100 countries. New Zealand had the highest prices, and Russia had the lowest. It is likely that Israel’s ranking has since improved relative to some countries that previously ranked lower. The Agriculture Ministry claims that approximately 35 million eggs have already arrived in Israel, with more shipments expected, ensuring that there will be no shortage for Pesach. However, one distributor told Ynet: “Only a third of the quota has been utilized so far. There’s going to be a significant shortage of eggs for Pesach. Prices abroad have already broken records, and imports are mainly possible from Poland, as other countries either don’t have eggs or are dealing with avian flu. The Agriculture Ministry said they would help us finance 75% of the cost above 17 cents per egg, and while that’s a good intention, it still means losing money—albeit not quite as much. “It doesn’t cover the costs, and the losses from imports could be enormous. Three months ago, we brought a crate of eggs from Poland for $40; now, they want $78. How can I sell that for 19 cents per egg? Egg prices here are regulated, so I can’t charge whatever I want. In Poland, there’s only one supplier, and he tells me, ‘There’s crazy demand, so the price has gone up. I follow supply and demand.’
“Ukraine was cheaper, but now it’s not worth importing from there because prices are very high, and since transportation is primarily over land—there’s no direct shipping to Israel—the eggs undergo a long journey, and many are spoiled by mold. We could produce more eggs locally if the planning system in the industry were canceled.”
“Price regulation could remain, but planning should be removed. Soon, a reform in the industry will require fewer hens per coop, which will increase egg prices in an industry already hurt by war and in need of recovery time.”
Another distributor shared with Ynet: “Right now, there’s a global crisis. Those who thought we could rely on imports were completely wrong. Entire countries that used to export eggs to us are no longer exporting. Italy imports eggs itself now. Spain isn’t exporting because it’s also facing an egg shortage. Portugal stopped exporting long ago. Ukraine primarily exports to the industrial market because its eggs are not always fit for consumption. “We’re left with one country: Poland, where there’s only one supplier. We all depend on one Polish supplier who raises prices every three days because he gets offers to sell to Germany or the European industrial market, and prices keep rising while our hands are tied due to price controls.”
Another distributor added: “We requested to import from Romania and Azerbaijan, but there are health concerns, and it takes time to establish relationships with suppliers and organize logistics. Meanwhile, the shipping industry is failing and delaying deliveries. Turkey is no longer an option, and there are very few countries that export eggs to begin with. Most European countries produce eggs like Israel—for their local markets. They don’t have surplus eggs.” The war significantly impacted Israeli poultry farmers, many of whom were evacuated from their communities and collected eggs under fire.
About 15% of poultry farms were damaged during the war. Egg quality also suffered because eggs weren’t always collected daily, and flocks were kept in coops for too long without being replaced, resulting in thinner egg shells. Despite this, Israeli consumers continued to receive a steady supply of locally produced eggs. The Agriculture Ministry emphasized, “There shouldn’t be any shortage of eggs for Pesach. We’re monitoring global trends. The issue is mainly in the U.S., which imports eggs only for industrial use. “In contrast, it’s possible to import eggs from Europe without any problem. Our data shows no importer has been harmed because prices are regulated, and we will not raise the regulated price in any way.”
The ministry has also established a safety net for importers to ensure eggs will be available if global prices escalate too much. This safety net includes subsidies of up to 4 cents per egg. However, the Ministry maintains that the global situation does not currently justify activating the safety net. Israel’s Poultry Council head, Shmuel Levit, concluded: “I believe there will be enough eggs for Pesach, as distributors won’t risk failing to supply retailers. However, importation has been unprofitable for months, and it has gotten worse over the past two months.”
{Matzav.com Israel}