Overview
- Industry groups attribute the squeeze to avian influenza losses, barn conversions after the end of small‑group housing, and routine flock changes overlapping with holiday downtime.
- Cold weather led to canceled weekly markets and pushed more buyers into supermarkets, further tightening supplies.
- Germany covers under 70% of its egg demand domestically, and reduced output in the Netherlands—source of about 28% of German eggs—has limited imports.
- The sector’s trade association says the shortage is temporary, with production running tight and logistics and timing cited as the main constraints.
- Retail prices have jumped, with ten barn eggs rising to about €2.49 and discounters such as Aldi Nord implementing increases, while one retail executive predicts the market may take up to four months to normalize.