High egg prices are due to avian influenza speculation; poultry farmers guarantee supply

In Mexico, there has been a 30% increase in the consumer price of a kilo of eggs, due to speculation that avian influenza will affect production. However, national production continues to flow regularly, agreed the National Poultry Union (A) and the Agricultural Markets Consulting Group (GCMA).

It is worth noting that the United States has restricted the importation of raw eggs from Mexico due to the risk of diseases entering the country; however, the wide price difference between the two countries has led to clandestine sales in the border between Mexico and the United States.

“The national egg output has a negative impact on the supply, a situation that added to the perception of less availability, generates speculation and drives prices up in our country,” said Juan Carlos Anaya, general director of the GCMA.

According to the UNA, derived from the illegal trade or smuggling of eggs from Mexico to the United States, it is estimated that during the period from November 1 to January 17, approximately 27,300 pieces of eggs were seized daily. It should be noted that in Mexico 136 million eggs are produced per day.

The impact for Mexico comes as a result of the egg price that has been registered in the United States, whose increases to the consumer are 109%going from 59 pesos per kilogram in January 2022 to 123.1 pesos per kilogram currently.

On the other hand, the UNA explained that Mexico, through the –SENASICA and the UNA – implemented an exhaustive monitoring program for avian diseases, which has been successful, since the Avian Influenza outbreaks registered in the national territory have been timely controlled for which, to date, 150 million have been applied. of vaccines.

The main problem arose from the presence of Avian Influenza AH5N1 in poultry farming in the United States has affected 58.1 million birds in production, causing an increase of about 112% in egg prices in that country.

In the case of Mexico, the presence of Avian Influenza has affected 5.6 million birds. “So far, this does not represent a significant impact on the industry’s ability to maintain the egg supply in the domestic market. It is important to comment that our country has a flock of 172 million chickens”.