Turkey begins egg exportation to United States
TURKEY – Egg shipments from Turkey to the United States are currently underway as part of efforts to address ongoing shortages caused by the highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI).
Ibrahim Afyon, chairman of the Egg Producers Central Union (YUM-BIR) in Turkey, told Reuters that exports started this month and will continue until July.
He stated that the process is being handled by authorized member companies, with two firms overseeing the coordination of shipments.
According to Afyon, a total of 15,000 metric tons of eggs will be delivered to the U.S. over the next six months.
Impact of HPAI on U.S. Egg Supply
HPAI has disrupted egg production in the U.S. since the outbreak began in 2022, leading to periodic shortages in supply.
The first case of HPAI in a U.S. commercial layer flock during this outbreak was detected on February 22, 2022, in New Castle County, Delaware.
In 2025 alone, 32 commercial laying hen flocks in the U.S. have been affected by HPAI, according to data from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS).
Confirmed cases this year have been reported in California, North Carolina, Ohio, Indiana, Missouri, Washington, Arizona, Iowa, and Pennsylvania.
Turkey’s Egg Production on the Rise
As the U.S. deals with supply constraints, Turkey’s egg production has been increasing.
Data from the Turkish Statistical Institute (TURKSTAT) shows that the country produced approximately 1.83 billion eggs in September 2023, marking a 4.1% increase from the previous month.
Turkey’s poultry industry has seen consistent growth in recent years, with reports indicating a steady rise in hen egg output.
TURKSTAT regularly tracks and publishes detailed figures on poultry production, including the number of eggs produced each month.
With Turkish egg exports now flowing into the U.S. market, the additional supply could help stabilize availability amid ongoing production challenges in the U.S.
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