November 7, 2022

Egg shortage in Cyprus due to lower imports

There is a shortage of eggs in Cyprus because of lower imports, as Andreas Hadjiadamou, executive secretary of the Cyprus Supermarkets Association, said production units in Europe are coping with poultry related diseases and there are also transport delays that result in lower imports in Cyprus, Kathimerini reported.

Petros Mintikkis, president of the country's Poultry Farmers Association, said the lower imports were attributed to lower production at European facilities because of higher costs.

He said, since March there have been avian influenza cases in several European nations, leading to the death of a sizable number of birds, primarily for security reasons.

Consequently, those who deal in eggs can no longer easily find them on the market, and poultry prices are increasing as a result of a decrease in supply and an increase in production costs. As a result, it is anticipated that these expenses will be reflected in the final product, with the cost of eggs on Cypriot store shelves rising by 10% to 20% from the current cost.

In terms of market supply, it is anticipated that as tourism flows and domestic consumption drops over the next one or two months that supply will gradually get better.

On the Cypriot market, it is estimated that 150 million eggs are consumed annually, with domestic production accounting for 70% and imports for 30%.

Marios Antoniou, general secretary of the Pancyprian Retail Association, said that any shortages are restricted to this particular product because no issues have been reported with other products.

Although there are other options, consumers may notice that certain brands are hard to find on supermarket shelves. This is a market gap brought on by the pandemic and the deregulation it has brought about in the efficient running of global trade and the supply chain.

-      Kathimerini