Fewer eggs imported

Shifts in the supplier countries

According to the Federal Statistical Office, Germany imported a good three billion shell eggs in the first three quarters of 2003, 5,2 percent less than in the same period of the previous year. In particular, the Netherlands, Germany's main supplier, was unable to maintain its position this year due to the avian influenza in the spring: Overall, our neighboring country delivered 2,20 billion eggs to the local market, almost 19 percent less. However, other EU countries stepped into the breach. Spain in particular expanded its shell egg deliveries by 120 percent to 222,9 million pieces. Three times as much goods came from third countries as in 2002. Poland, the Czech Republic and Lithuania are the most important supplier countries in that order. In absolute figures, imports from third countries, which totaled 110,7 million eggs in the reporting period - at least still - play a rather minor role.

Due to the tighter supply in this country, fewer eggs were available for export. In the first nine months of this year, German exports of 566 million units fell short of the previous year's level by a good 31 percent. The most important recipient countries were the Netherlands with almost 181 million eggs and outside the EU Switzerland with 115 million eggs.

Source: Bonn [ZmP]