Austria’s households bought more eggs in 2024 than ever before, surpassing the sales record reached during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, due to the aftermath of the bird flu in Europe and the approaching Easter holidays, egg supplies are currently tight. For example, organic eggs are sometimes sold out in supermarkets by late afternoon.
Due to avian flu, millions of laying hens were culled across the EU in recent months. In Austria, around 200,000 out of 7.3 million laying hens were killed in the fall of 2024 due to the bird flu. The “large losses” in other countries are indirectly affecting the Austrian market and the egg supply, according to the poultry industry in a press release on Tuesday.
More Local Demand for Austrian Eggs Due to Foreign Supply Shortages “Although Austria is back to full production, some types of eggs are out of stock in stores,” said Heinz Schlögl, deputy chairman of the Austrian Poultry Industry. Gastro wholesalers, who have previously supplied the local hospitality industry with “cheaper foreign eggs,” are currently receiving “no or very expensive eggs” from abroad. “As a result, restaurant owners are turning to the grocery trade for their purchases,” said the industry representative.
An extreme example of high egg price volatility is the United States: Due to the ongoing bird flu, eggs now cost more than a dollar in some states. The US has had to search worldwide for eggs, and even the Austrian poultry industry association received an inquiry from the US embassy. “There are no possibilities for egg exports to the US,” said the Austrian poultry industry. The industry also reports “few new entrants” in Austria, as the overall costs for building new poultry houses have “risen significantly” and current egg prices make major new investments “economically unfeasible.” “Austrian egg production is a pioneer in terms of transparency, animal welfare, and environmental protection,” said Günther Wenninger, chairman of the Fresh Egg Producer Group. “These achievements are not adequately appreciated,” Wenninger criticized.
Average Household Purchases 230 Eggs Per Year In Austria, egg consumption is rising. Egg sales in the retail sector increased by 7.4 percent in volume and 9.5 percent in value in 2024, according to the latest RollAMA market analysis. For RollAMA, 2,800 Austrian households keep records of their grocery purchases, including discount stores like Hofer and Lidl. In terms of volume, 49.7 percent of egg purchases were from barn-raised eggs, 37.6 percent from free-range eggs, and 12.7 percent from organic eggs. On average, each household purchased 230 eggs for home consumption in 2024. Including eggs processed into noodles, cakes, and pastries, the total is around 248 eggs, according to the poultry industry. During the Easter period, around 60 million eggs are sold and consumed. The Austrian poultry industry urges consumers to look for the red-white-red AMA quality seal when buying colored Easter eggs.
The Chamber of Agriculture is also promoting regional Easter purchases. In addition to traditional foods like eggs, cured meat, horseradish, and farm bread, due to the late Easter date, domestic salads, radishes, cucumbers, herbs, and asparagus are already available, said Josef Moosbrugger, President of the Chamber of Agriculture.
