Developing countries more active in trade

Fewer than 2 percent of hen eggs are traded on world markets. While the total rose by around 3 percent a year from 404,000 tonnes up to 729,000t in 1990, it then grew more slowly at around 2. 2 percent/year to reach 908,000t in 2000. However, latterly sales have perked up, expanding by an average of 5 percent/ year to almost 1.2 million tonnes in 2005.

As a proportion of all hen eggs produced,
the quantity exported has slipped to below
the 2 percent level.
shell egg importing country accounting for
nearly one third of the business in 1970 and
25 percent in 2004.

The FAO’s trading figures for 2006 have yet to be released. Individual country figures for 2005 were published in last year’s Executive Guide so we have only presented the regional totals here. They show that in 2005 shell egg exports increased by more than 11 percent to almost 1.2mt. Europe

accounts for 65 percent and Asia 27 percent.
On the import side, Europe represented 64
percent and Asia 25 percent.
Since 1990 the trade in dried egg
products increased three and a half times
to almost 53,000 tonnes with Europe and
Northern America dominating the business.
Trading in liquid eggs has expanded.
The 2005 level being nearly double that of
1990.
Regional variations
Since it is difficult to transport shell eggs
over long distances, the bulk of trade is
within comparatively small regions.

Although the majority of shell egg exports are from developed countries, shipments from developing countries have expanded fourfold since 1970 and currently account for around a quarter of the global total.

According to IEC’s statistical analyst, Hans-Wilhelm Windhorst, while in 1990 European countries contributed almost 82 percent to the global export volume, by 2004 this figure had contracted to a little below 68 percent. Asia and North Central America increased their shares from 11. 2 percent to 22. 2 percent and from 4. 8 percent to 7. 8 percent respectively.

Looking at the 10 leading exporting nations in 1970 and again in 2004 underlines the regional concentration of the business. In 1970, the top 10 accounted for about 83 percent of exports with the leading three – Belgium, the Netherlands and China shipping almost half of the total. In 2004 the ten leaders still accounted for more than 81 percent of the trade with the Netherlands, Spain and China representing almost 44 percent of all exports.

World shell egg exports (000 tonnes)

800

700

Source: FAO

600

500

1999

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

400

300

200

100

0

Africa

N. America Latin America*

Asia

Europe

Oceania

Europe accounts for 65 percent and Asia 27 percent of shell egg exports.

World dried egg imports (000 tonnes)

40

35

Source: FAO

30

Developing
countries fluctuate

From 1970 to 2004, the proportion of imports to developing countries fluctuated between 24 percent and 35 percent. The regional concentration was evident with Europe (63 percent) and Asia ( 24 percent) accounting for the bulk of the trade in 2004. Although regional concentration is still evident, its share has decreased from 81 percent to 73 percent of the total, indicating that an increasing number of countries were importing shell eggs by 2004.

For more than the past three decades
Germany has easily been the number one

25

1999

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

20

15

10

5

0

Africa N. America Latin America* Asia Europe

* Latin America, Central America and Caribbean

Shipments from developing countries have expanded fourfold since 1970 and
currently account for around a quarter of the global total.

Oceania