April 6, 2023

Taiwan to import another 30 million eggs this month

Taiwan's Council of Agriculture will import 30 million eggs in April 2022 and a further 30 million eggs in May, due to an egg supply shortage north of the country, Taipei Times reported.

This comes after 5.5 million imported eggs hit store shelves late March.

Consumers in northern Taiwan had difficulty finding eggs in the country's major supermarket chains' Pxmart and Carrefour stores, as deliveries to the stores in the north of the country were quickly sold out.

According to Pxmart, fresh eggs sold out yesterday morning but may be replenished today. The cheapest would be imported eggs, which sell for NTD 68 (~US$2.23; NTD 10 = US$0.33) per box of ten.

Chiang Wen-chuan, Taiwan's Deputy Director of the Department of Animal Industry, said that after the five-day Tomb Sweeping holiday ends today, approximately 30 million eggs will be flown into the country this month, followed by another 30 million eggs next month.

Data Taiwan's Council of Agriculture showed the country's egg-laying industry's daily production increased to 22.3 million in the final week of last month, 1.7 million eggs short of the average daily demand of 24 million, according to council data.

Daily local production is expected to meet demand by the end of next month or in June.

The egg shortage is caused by temperature changes, increased feed costs, a large number of moulting hens, and the spread of avian influenza.

-      Taipei Times