Eggs
Output
0.4
%
yoy
$256m est
Value of exports rose
218 % yoy
New labelling standards introduced in April 2017
Free range eggs accounted for over half of the industry’s value
Demand continued to increase, driven by growth in population and as a protein substitute for meat. Free range eggs accounted for more than half of the industry’s value, reflecting consumer preferences. The growth in exports was once again boosted by Avian-flu outbreaks in Asia.
Production
The NSW egg industry remained relatively stable in 2017–18 with estimated production of 1.24 billion eggs2. Demand for eggs is being supported by population growth and the rising consumption of eggs as an alternative source of protein in lieu of meat, which has increased in price at a much faster rate than eggs59.
The share of industry production attributable to free-range and organically-produced eggs grew in line with changing consumer preferences. While cage eggs accounted for the largest portion of eggs produced by the industry in terms of volume, free-range eggs accounted for more than half of the industry’s value58.
New standards for free-range egg labelling were introduced in late April 2017 when the national free range egg information standard came into effect. The new information standard was introduced to provide clarity and confidence to producers and consumers when making purchasing decisions.
NATIONAL EGG PRODUCTION SEGMENTATION BY VALUE
- Free-range Eggs
- Cage Eggs
- Barn Laid Eggs
- Organic and other Eggs
Price
Domestic egg prices rose by 0.7%. This trend was largely because of the growing consumption of high-value industry products, such as free range and organic eggs, which attract higher prices compared with cage and barn-laid eggs, partially offset by a fall in retail prices for free range eggs59.
Exports
Exports accounted for 1.9% of national industry revenue in 2017–18, meaning most eggs produced are consumed locally. Despite this, the value of exports rose 218% year-on-year, with NSW exporting 1.3 million kilograms of eggs to the Philippines and 90,000 kilograms to Sri Lanka54.
New and reoccurring outbreaks of avian flu strains in Asia, Europe, and the Middle East were reported in 2017–1877. The Philippines was hardest hit, with more than 2.5 million bird losses (deaths and animals killed and disposed of) in Asia during March–May 2018 alone77.
