Eggs: Criticality

Bird flu and the world's cheapest complete protein

Bird flu and the world's cheapest complete protein What this tab covers How exposed economies are to a supply disruption: the EU, US and India listings, the concentration score, and a quantified exposure for the US, EU, India, China, Japan, Latin America, the Middle East and Australia. Where the EU scored it, a chart of supply risk against economic importance, with import reliance, recycling input and substitutes.

Exposure by region

Region	Exposure	Share of world output	Share of world imports	Share of world exports	Net trade (US$)	On own critical list	Position
US	Low	6.1%	2.0%	10.6%	+$507.3 m	No	Fourth-largest producer (6.1% of world output in 2024, FAOSTAT) and second-largest exporter by value (10.6%, UN Comtrade), but a net importer in the 2025 avian influenza crisis (WASDE).
EU	Low	3.9%	56.6%	57.8%	+$689.1 m	No	Regional trade hub: the Netherlands supplies 18.5% and Poland 9.1% of world export value, and Germany takes 18.3% of imports (UN Comtrade 2024).
India	Low	8.3%	0.0%	1.8%	+$102.8 m	No	Second-largest producer (8.3% of world output, 147.3 billion eggs in 2024, FAOSTAT) with little trade.
China	Low	34.8%	0.0%	4.8%	+$273.4 m	No	Largest producer by far (34.8% of world output in 2024, FAOSTAT) and a small exporter (4.8% of export value, UN Comtrade).
Japan	Low	2.3%	0.0%	0.8%	+$45.6 m	No	Not among the top six egg importers by value in 2024 (UN Comtrade).
Latin America	Medium	11.5%	7.3%	2.9%	−$169.6 m	no list	Brazil (3.7%) and Mexico (3.5%) are large producers that trade little (FAOSTAT 2024).
Middle East	High	1.9%	8.0%	2.8%	−$203.5 m	no list	Importer region supplied partly by Turkey, which has 8.2% of world export value (UN Comtrade 2024).
Australia	Low	0.2%	0.0%	0.0%	+$0	No	Produced 4.38 billion eggs in 2024 (FAOSTAT) and is not among the top six traders.

Exposure rating: High when the region is a net importer whose import share is at least three times its share of world output (or, for farm goods, it produces under 70% of what it consumes); Medium for other net importers (or 70-95% self-sufficiency), raised to High when world supply is highly concentrated in another country; Low for net exporters or self-sufficient regions. Net importer status uses tonnage where reported, otherwise value. Output: FAOSTAT, 2024. Trade: UN Comtrade 2024 (EU = sum of member states, including intra-EU trade). Critical lists: US 2025, EU 2024/1252, India 2023, China 2016 strategic minerals, Japan METI, Australia 2024.

Eggs are on neither the US 2025 nor the India 2023 critical list, but they matter for food security as the cheapest complete animal protein, important for child nutrition. The main supply risk is disease. Highly pathogenic avian influenza now circulates in wild birds on most continents, so outbreaks recur rather than surprise. Producers depend on a few global genetics suppliers, the concentration Morgan saw with Shaver hens. Feed ties eggs to maize and soybean markets. Import-dependent Singapore treats egg supply as a strategic issue.

EU 2023 Not assessed US 2025 list No India 2023 list No Production HHI 1,438 unconcentrated