The egg industry in the EU is not competitive with U.S. and Ukraine

Import duties protect the EU egg industry from heavy imports from third countries. If negotiations with non-EU countries lead to the...

Import duties protect the EU egg industry from heavy imports from third countries. If negotiations with non-EU countries lead to the reduction or elimination of import duties, there is a risk of competition from non-EU countries, especially egg powder. With a 50% reduction in import duties, Ukraine and the US can supply whole powdered eggs at a lower price than the EU egg industry.

With a 50% reduction in import duties and a 10% reduction in non-EU currency exchange rates, the asking price for powdered eggs would be lower than the EU average in Ukraine, the US, as well as in Argentina, and India.

• The "worst-case scenario"; includes no import duties and a 10 percent reduction in exchange rates for non-EU currencies. In this case, all non-EU countries will be very cheap suppliers of whole egg powder on the EU market. Offer prices could be 16% (Argentina), 20% (India), or even 24% (Ukraine and US) below the EU average.

These findings are reflected in a study by Wageningen University & Research for the European Egg Packers and Traders Association (EEPTA) and the European Egg Processors Association (EEPA). The report shows the impact of reducing or removing import levies on the competitiveness of the EU egg sector for both shell eggs and whole egg powder.

Production costs of shell eggs and egg powder compared