Turkey has launched a large-scale egg export operation to the United States to help alleviate a severe egg shortage caused by an ongoing bird flu outbreak. The Egg Producers Central Union (YUM-BIR) is coordinating the shipment of 15,000 tonnes of eggs — equivalent to 700 containers — between February and July 2025, generating an estimated $26 million in revenue. Turkish firms are overseeing the export process.
Turkey’s position as a major egg exporter has made it an attractive supplier for the U.S.:
- Global Ranking: Turkey is among the world’s top 10 egg exporters
- Export Capacity: Turkey has a 15-25% export capacity beyond its domestic needs
- Previous Exports: The U.S. last imported eggs from Turkey in January 2023
Turkey’s agreement presents several potential challenges:
Logistics and Transportation
- Distance: Shipping eggs across long distances requires careful handling and temperature control to maintain quality.
- Packaging: The U.S. has specific packaging requirements that Turkish producers must meet.
- Volume: Coordinating the shipment of 700 containers of eggs by July 2025 may strain existing export infrastructure.
Market Dynamics
- Domestic supply: Ensuring the export doesn’t affect Turkey’s domestic egg market, especially with Ramadan approaching.
- Price stability: Maintaining stable prices in Turkey while meeting U.S. demand could be challenging.
- Export reallocation: Turkish companies may need to reduce shipments to other countries to fulfill the U.S. order.
Regulatory Compliance
- U.S. import standards: Meeting U.S. food safety and import regulations for eggs.
- Vaccination policies: Potential issues if Turkey uses bird flu vaccines, as some countries don’t accept imports of vaccinated poultry products.
Competition and Market Position
- Long-term market share: Establishing a lasting presence in the U.S. market beyond the current crisis.
- Price competitiveness: Ensuring Turkish eggs remain competitively priced in the U.S. market.
Disease Management
- Biosecurity measures: Maintaining strict biosecurity to prevent bird flu outbreaks in Turkey, which could jeopardize the export agreement.
- Rapid response: Being prepared to quickly address any disease outbreaks that could affect export capacity.
Production Capacity
- Scaling up: Rapidly increasing production to meet both domestic and new U.S. demand.
- Consistent supply: Maintaining a steady supply over the agreed period until July 2025.
Bottom line: These challenges will require careful planning and coordination between Turkish egg producers, exporters, and U.S. importers to ensure the successful fulfillment of this significant export agreement.