Liquid and Shell Egg Market News

May 23, 2025
Source: USDA AMS Livestock & Poultry Program, Livestock, Poultry, and Grain Market News Division Egg Markets Overview

SHELL EGG HIGHLIGHTS

Source: USDA AMS Livestock & Poultry Program, Livestock, Poultry, and Grain Market News Division Egg Markets Overview

Negotiated wholesale prices for graded loose caged eggs are weak to sharply lower on
light to moderate demand and moderate supplies. Trading is slow to moderate.
Wholesale prices for national trading of trucklot quantities of graded, loose, White Large
shell eggs decreased $0.54 to $2.92 per dozen with a weak undertone. The wholesale price
on the New York market for formula trading of Large cartoned shell eggs delivered to
retailers decreased $0.45 to $3.30 per dozen with a weak undertone. In the major Midwest
production region, wholesale prices for Large, white, shell eggs delivered to warehouses
gained $0.02 to $3.64 per dozen with a steady undertone as did prices paid to producers
for Large cartoned shell eggs at $3.46 per dozen. The California benchmark for Large shell
eggs declined $0.27 to $4.55 per dozen with a weak undertone. Delivered prices on the
California-compliant wholesale loose egg market declined $1.87 to $2.58 per dozen with
a weak undertone. Interest is light for light to moderate offerings and moderate supplies.
Demand for shell eggs moved lower over the past week as movement into consumer
marketing channels slowed. Everyday prices for shell eggs in grocery outlets have come
down as the avian influenza crisis has waned and supplies have recovered but are yet to
reach a level to incentivize shoppers to purchase much beyond basic week-to-week needs.
However, as Memorial Day arrives this weekend, marking the unofficial start of summer
and backyard gatherings, some major grocers are featuring shell eggs in their store
circulars at some of the most attractive price levels since prior to the start of the supply
shortages earlier this year – levels almost certain to stimulate consumption. Demand for
shell eggs from egg products manufacturers slowed this week as increased spot market
offerings and reduced schedules provided an opportunity to increase stocks to their
highest level in a month. Demand is expected to remain light as schedules are varied
headed into the holiday weekend.

CAGE FREE

As of July 2024, cage-free commitments remain about unchanged, requiring an estimated
66.7 billion cage-free eggs per year to meet 100% of needs from an approximate cage-
free flock of 221.4 million hens (72.7% of the U.S. non-organic flock), indicating a shortage
of 121 million hens from the current non-organic cage-free flock of 100.7 million hens.
The average lay rate for non-organic, barn/aviary cage-free production for the month is
estimated at 82.6%.

LIQUID EGG HIGHLIGHTS

Wholesale prices for certified liquid whole eggs are lower with a weak undertone. Demand
is moderate to very good for light to moderate offerings and supplies. Trading is
moderate to active. Wholesale prices for whole frozen eggs are down $0.20 to $3.00 per
pound while prices for frozen whites declined $0.25 to $2.40 per pound. The undertone
is mostly weak with a full range of demand. Offerings are light and supplies are light to
moderate. Trading is moderate. Prices for dried eggs are too few to report this week. The
price of dried whole egg was tested last week at $25.00 per pound, dried yolk at $21.00
per pound, and dried albumen at $30.00 per pound. The undertone is generally weak with
light to moderate demand. Offerings and supplies are light to very light and trading is
moderate.

Source: USDA Egg Market News