Following the outbreak of avian flu in the United States, the country has turned to Austria in search of eggs. “We received a request from the U.S. Embassy,” reported Michael Wurzer from the Poultry Industry Association in response to an inquiry from APA. However, due to the current supply shortages in Austria, it is not possible to export more eggs to the U.S. at this time, Wurzer explained. Additionally, it would be a logistical challenge.
In general, Austria has limited export capacity as the egg-laying farms are focused on supplying the domestic market, Wurzer stated. There is also increased demand in the food retail sector. “This is due to the fact that gastronomy businesses, which usually obtain foreign eggs through wholesalers, are now buying from retail, as eggs are currently cheaper in the retail sector compared to the spot markets in Europe, where prices have risen due to the bird flu, just like in the U.S.,” he explained. “Therefore, we cannot export more eggs to the States.”
Additionally, a stronger supply to the U.S. would be difficult from a practical perspective, according to Wurzer. “Eggs have a shelf life of 28 days. Whether this works out logistically over sea freight is questionable, and they need to be kept refrigerated. And shipping by plane would be very expensive,” said the association’s manager.
Requests from Several European Countries
In the U.S., eggs are currently in short supply due to the avian flu outbreak in poultry and dairy farms, making them significantly more expensive than usual. Many laying hens were culled. Despite growing tensions amid the U.S. trade war, the United States has turned to Europe to meet its egg demand, requesting more exports from countries like Germany, Sweden, and Denmark.
Supply in Austria Secured for Easter
In Austria, there are no concerns about the supply of eggs for Easter, Wurzer emphasized to APA. While there continues to be occasional shortages following the bird flu outbreak in autumn 2024, “we will be able to supply Austrians with sufficient fresh eggs.” If certain types are unavailable, “we ask consumers to consider opting for Austrian eggs from other farming methods,” Wurzer said.
Similarly, on Wednesday, Josef Moosbrugger, president of the Austrian Chamber of Agriculture (LKÖ), remarked that to secure domestic supply, it is important “to continue to support our high-quality local eggs and focus even more on them,” he said in a statement.
