Will Brazilian and Thai eggs conquer Poland? Processing plants tempted by low prices of raw materials

Polish egg processing plants receive more and more offers to purchase raw materials from producers from countries that are not members of the European Union. Proposals from Ukraine, Turkey or Brazil are not uncommon – according to monitoring conducted by the National Chamber of Poultry and Feed Producers (KIPDiP).

The Chamber's analysts point out the paradox that Poland – as one of the largest producers and exporters of eggs in the world – is starting to buy chicken eggs from foreign entities. Experts blame this state of affairs primarily on the policies of the European Union.

The head of the Chamber, Katarzyna Gawrońska, points out that recently there have been several crises in Europe related to the availability of eggs. “Their causes were different, but each time they gained in importance and strength thanks to the decisions of Brussels decision-makers – says Gawrońska. In her opinion, the main sins of the EU included, above all, the constant tightening of regulations on egg production far beyond the standards in force in the world, better treatment of non-EU egg producers than domestic ones, and creating conditions of permanent uncertainty regarding the further functioning of the cage egg production system.

According to the president of KIPDiP, the restrictive EU policy towards egg producers is visible through the prism of prices. Consumers on the Old Continent could pay significantly less for eggs if it were not for EU regulations and interference in the functioning of the egg production industry.

Currently, according to official data from the EC itself, eggs in Europe are even slightly more expensive than in the United States, which is severely affected by bird flu. European eggs cost 58 percent more. more than in Brazil and by 67 percent. than in India.

“It is therefore hardly surprising that Brazilians, having such a large price margin, try to sell their eggs even in Poland,” Gawrońska noted. She added that without the agreement with Mercosur, Argentina has a strong presence on the European egg market and is currently the fourth largest exporter of eggs to the EU.

As indicated by KIPDiP, Poland is the fifth largest egg producer in the EU and one of the world's largest exporters of this product. Okay. 35-40 percent Polish egg production goes to foreign markets. The largest recipients of egg exports from the EU are: Great Britain, Japan, Switzerland, Israel and Thailand. (PAP)

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