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Date Published: 20/03/2025

Trump wants Spanish huevos: USA eyes Spain's eggs for import following bird flu crisis

Spain is preparing to export eggs to the US amid a lack of American eggs due to the spread of avian flu

The United States is facing an unprecedented egg crisis caused by avian influenza (H5N1), which has decimated poultry flocks and driven egg prices to record levels. In response, President Donald Trump has opted for a pragmatic solution, opening up the US market to high-quality European eggs, with Spain among the countries in the spotlight.

Between March 2024 and January 2025, over 136 million egg-laying poultry across all 50 US states were affected by the virus, with 109 outbreaks recorded between January and early March this year. Faced with this supply shortage, American authorities have begun negotiations with European countries, including Spain, to secure egg imports.

Related story: EU retaliates against Trump’s tariffs with countermeasures

Spanish egg producers could find themselves with a valuable new market if negotiations between Spain’s Ministry of Agriculture and US officials on export certification are successful. Until now, Spain’s egg exports have been largely confined to the European Union, with €323.66 million in exports last year. Only a small fraction, €700,000 million, reached the US market.

Spain, which has around 48 million laying hens, produces approximately 1.2 billion dozen eggs annually. According to Mari Luz de Santos, director of the Spanish Federation of Egg Product Production Companies (FEDEROVO), Spain currently produces around 120% of its own needs, with 20% of production exported to the EU. The industry directly employs 15,000 people, with a further 60,000 indirectly involved, and includes 1,800 farms, over 900 sorting centres, and 35 processing industries.

Spanish eggs, along with those from other European producers, are produced under the European Model of Production, which guarantees traceability, animal welfare and food safety standards, and also encourages sustainable farming practices with many Spanish farms investing in transitioning from caged hen systems to more humane alternatives. Currently, 1 in 3 hens in Spain are raised in free-range, organic or floor-based systems, and 82% of farms have already made this shift.

However, while Spain may be preparing to meet new international demand, its domestic market has not been immune to challenges. In recent weeks, egg prices in Spain have soared by 25%, reaching €2.10 per dozen. The Organisation of Consumers and Users (OCU) has raised concerns about speculation driving this increase, as there has been no direct supply crisis within Spain.

De Santos attributes some of the price rise to the transition to more sustainable production systems, which can temporarily reduce supply. Nevertheless, the OCU and other consumer groups argue that the price hike, especially in lower-cost caged eggs, points to market speculation rather than genuine shortages.

Meanwhile, animal welfare groups continue to highlight concerns about overcrowding and unsanitary conditions on farms, linking them to disease outbreaks.

As the United States continues to struggle with its bird flu crisis, it has also approached other European countries, including Denmark, about potential exports. Yet, the Danish Egg Association has pointed out that Europe does not have large surpluses, and that exporting eggs to the US could lead to even higher prices here in the EU.

Image: nunochka

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