We now know the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on global egg production and consumption – it was negative.
Latest data from the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) reveals that, for the first time since the organization started publishing production data in 1961, global egg production fell by about 686,000 metric tons (MT), or -0.8%, in 2021.
This resulted in fewer eggs for consumption – 183 per person, down by two from 2020.
Global leader leads fall
The largest decrease was in China (- 509,000 MT, or -0.7%), the world leader in egg production. This was only the third time in 60 years that China experienced a contraction in egg production.
Among the top 10 egg producing countries, Türkiye (-2.5%), Japan (-2.2%) and the U.S. (-0.2%) also recorded production falls from the prior year. Egg production decreased over the period in 79 countries, on all continents, while remaining stable in 22 nations.
Ninety countries, however, recorded increases during the pandemic. The Caribbean Island nation of Saint Lucia registered the highest percentage increase in production (71.2%), likely driven by the difficulty in importing shell eggs. Surinam (30.6%) and Hong Kong (23.6%), also accustomed to importing shell eggs, recorded significant growth, albeit from a low base.
The Philippines registered a 9.2% increase in production, equivalent to an additional 55,605 MT of eggs, and just shy of the highest annual volume increase recorded in 2021. Up by 56,334 MT, Brazil was the global leader in production output, continuing its expansion in egg output, which has grown by 62.9% since 2011.
Re-ranking ongoing
2021 also witnessed a landmark in the egg sector. It saw India pass the U.S. to become the world’s second-largest egg producer, with output of 6.7 million eggs. While Indian farmers had, if one simply considers number of eggs, achieved this feat in 2019, Indian eggs are smaller than those produced in the U.S. In 2021, the number of Indian eggs produced exceeded that of the U.S. by 56,278 MT, equivalent to the annual production of about 3 million laying hens.
The U.S. may not stay in third position for long, however, as it is closely trailed by Indonesia, another emerging Asian egg giant.
In 2021, Asia represented 61.2% of the global egg production and has accounted for 73.8% of the global growth in egg production since 2011.
Latin America
Latin America was another bright spot during this difficult year.
Egg production in Latin America has, for years, been dominated by the friendly rivalry between Mexico and Brazil, however, new competitors are emerging.
Colombia, under the leadership of industry association FENAVI, entered 2021 taking 10th place in the global ranking from France. Over the preceding 10 years egg production in Colombia increased by 59.7%, meaning that Colombians now eat 100 more eggs annually than 10 years ago.
Argentina, with 885,000 MT, is now the fourth largest producer in the region, and is on track to take its place in the global top 10.
Since 2011, the region’s egg production has grown by 46.5%, accounting for 16% of global growth.
While new challenges may have appeared in 2022, we can be confident that 2021 was a transition year and we believe that Rabobank’s prediction that the global egg sector will grow by 23% by 2031 will come to fruition.
