Egg Demand Leads to Warning of Stockpiling, Says German Poultry Association President
The president of the German Poultry Association, Hans-Peter Goldnick, has warned against mass egg purchases ahead of Easter. “We will have enough eggs for Easter, as long as consumers do not stock up” he told the Spiegel, adding, “If only 10 percent of consumers suddenly buy two boxes of eggs instead of one, then that’s 40 million eggs that will be hoarded and missing from the shelves.”
Several factors have contributed to the current egg market being a bit off-balance, according to Goldnick. In addition to the avian influenza affecting not only the US but also European operations, the domestic demand has been unusually high, with dyeing companies ordering unusually large quantities for Easter. The per-capita consumption in Germany has risen from 239 to 249 eggs in the past year.
However, panic about a shortage or price surge is not warranted, the poultry expert said. “Egg prices in the supermarket will at least not rise in the short term” he predicted, “Maybe it will be a bit more expensive come autumn.” This would depend on how global consumption develops, such as how quickly the US resolves its egg shortage. “We have a stable production in Germany. The supply is secured” Goldnick reassured, “We will already have a balanced market after Easter.