From global powerhouses producing millions of tons to evolving consumer trends, the 2022 global egg industry paints a dynamic portrait of a world increasingly reliant on this versatile protein.
Key Takeaways
- In 2022, global egg production reached 86.4 million metric tons, marking a 2.5% increase from 2021 driven by rising demand in Asia.
- China produced 36.9 million metric tons of eggs in 2022, accounting for 42.7% of global output.
- The United States egg production totaled 5.1 million metric tons in 2022, with 93 billion eggs laid by 320 million laying hens.
- World per capita egg production averaged 11 kg in 2022.
- China egg consumption per capita was 22 kg in 2022, highest globally.
- United States per capita consumption reached 286 eggs (12.7 kg) in 2022.
- Global egg exports reached 3.2 million metric tons in 2022.
- Netherlands was the top egg exporter with 0.95 million metric tons in 2022.
- United States exported 0.32 million metric tons of eggs in 2022.
- Global egg market revenue $160 billion in 2022.
- Average global wholesale egg price $1.85 per dozen in 2022.
- China egg market size $85 billion in 2022.
- Global cage-free egg market $8.5 billion in 2022.
- 25% of global laying hens cage-free by end of 2022.
- EU 100% cage-free egg production mandated from 2027, 85% in 2022.
Global egg production increased in 2022, led by China and growing demand worldwide.
Consumption
- World per capita egg production averaged 11 kg in 2022.
- China egg consumption per capita was 22 kg in 2022, highest globally.
- United States per capita consumption reached 286 eggs (12.7 kg) in 2022.
- Japan consumed 18.5 kg per capita in 2022, steady cultural staple.
- Mexico per capita egg intake was 24 kg in 2022, protein source.
- India consumption per capita at 2.1 kg in 2022, growing rapidly.
- Brazil averaged 10.5 kg per capita egg consumption in 2022.
- EU-27 per capita consumption was 13.2 kg in 2022.
- Russia consumed 12.8 kg per capita in 2022.
- Indonesia per capita at 7.2 kg in 2022, urban rise.
- Turkey egg consumption per capita 15.4 kg in 2022.
- Global egg consumption totaled 84.2 million metric tons in 2022.
- Nigeria per capita consumption 1.8 kg in 2022, potential growth.
- South Korea averaged 14.5 kg per capita in 2022.
- Egypt consumption per capita 6.3 kg in 2022.
- Vietnam per capita 11.2 kg in 2022, dietary shift.
- Philippines averaged 8.9 kg per capita in 2022.
- Iran consumption 10.1 kg per capita in 2022.
- Poland per capita 12.5 kg in 2022.
- Urban areas globally consume 65% of total eggs in 2022.
- Household consumption accounts for 75% of global egg use in 2022.
- Processed egg products consumption grew 3.2% globally in 2022.
- China total egg consumption 31.2 million metric tons in 2022.
- US egg demand for food service 25% of total in 2022.
- Global vegetarian diets boost egg consumption by 15% in 2022.
- Africa per capita average 1.5 kg in 2022.
- Middle East per capita 9.8 kg in 2022.
Consumption Interpretation
While the world averages an egg a day per person, the data reveals a cracked reality where nutritional divides, culinary traditions, and economic development paint a picture of scrambled global priorities, with China and Mexico leading the protein pack while nations like Nigeria and India showcase immense potential in a shell.
Economic
- Global egg market revenue $160 billion in 2022.
- Average global wholesale egg price $1.85 per dozen in 2022.
- China egg market size $85 billion in 2022.
- US egg industry value $13.7 billion in 2022.
- EU egg market valued at $28 billion in 2022.
- Brazil egg sector revenue $4.2 billion in 2022.
- Global processed egg market $15.6 billion in 2022.
- India egg industry employment 5 million people in 2022.
- Average farmgate price global $0.12 per egg in 2022.
- Egg price inflation 8.5% globally in 2022 due to feed costs.
- US retail egg price averaged $2.10 per dozen in 2022.
- Netherlands egg export value €1.2 billion in 2022.
- Global investment in egg production $12 billion in 2022.
- Turkey egg market $2.8 billion in 2022.
- Profit margins for egg producers averaged 15% globally in 2022.
- Feed costs represent 65% of egg production expenses in 2022.
- Global egg processing capacity 12 million MT in 2022.
- Asia egg market growth CAGR 4.2% 2017-2022.
- Number of commercial egg farms worldwide 250,000 in 2022.
- Egg industry contributes 1.2% to global agricultural GDP in 2022.
Economic Interpretation
The global egg industry is a $160 billion scramble where China lays claim to over half the nest egg, everyone’s profit is yolked to feed costs, and yet, somehow, the world still gets its dozen for less than a fancy cup of coffee.
Production
- In 2022, global egg production reached 86.4 million metric tons, marking a 2.5% increase from 2021 driven by rising demand in Asia.
- China produced 36.9 million metric tons of eggs in 2022, accounting for 42.7% of global output.
- The United States egg production totaled 5.1 million metric tons in 2022, with 93 billion eggs laid by 320 million laying hens.
- India ranked third globally with 4.6 million metric tons of egg production in 2022, supported by 1.2 billion laying hens.
- Brazil's egg production grew to 3.8 million metric tons in 2022, a 4% rise due to expanded commercial farms.
- Mexico produced 2.9 million metric tons of eggs in 2022, with per capita production at 24 kg annually.
- Japan maintained steady production at 2.5 million metric tons in 2022 despite declining population.
- Russia output stood at 2.9 million metric tons in 2022, boosted by government subsidies.
- Indonesia produced 2.7 million metric tons in 2022, with smallholder farms contributing 60%.
- Turkey generated 2.4 million metric tons of eggs in 2022, ranking in the global top 10.
- Global laying hen population exceeded 8 billion in 2022, directly correlating to egg output.
- Average global egg production per hen reached 300 eggs per year in 2022, up from 290 in 2020.
- Europe produced 13.2 million metric tons of eggs in 2022, led by France and Germany.
- Nigeria's egg production hit 1.8 million metric tons in 2022, growing at 5% annually.
- South Korea output was 1.7 million metric tons in 2022, with high-tech cage-free systems.
- Egypt produced 1.6 million metric tons in 2022, facing feed cost challenges.
- Vietnam reached 1.5 million metric tons in 2022, export-oriented growth.
- Argentina output at 1.0 million metric tons in 2022, stable market.
- Thailand produced 1.2 million metric tons in 2022, backyard farming dominant.
- Philippines egg production was 0.9 million metric tons in 2022.
- Global table egg production was 76 million metric tons in 2022, excluding hatching eggs.
- Hatching egg production globally reached 10.4 million metric tons in 2022.
- Iran produced 1.4 million metric tons of eggs in 2022 despite sanctions.
- Ukraine output dropped to 0.8 million metric tons in 2022 due to war.
- Poland produced 1.1 million metric tons in 2022, EU leader.
- Netherlands efficiency: 340 eggs per hen annually in 2022.
- Global egg production forecast for 2023: 88.5 million metric tons.
- Africa total egg production: 5.2 million metric tons in 2022.
- Middle East output: 4.1 million metric tons in 2022.
- Oceania egg production: 0.5 million metric tons in 2022, led by Australia.
Production Interpretation
In 2022, the world's appetite cracked open 86.4 million metric tons of eggs, a yolk-laden testament to Asia's hunger where China alone laid a commanding 43% share, while the relentless clucking of over 8 billion hens—each now a more efficient 300-egg-per-year marvel—painted a portrait of an industry scrambling to meet demand from Brazil's expanding farms to Nigeria's rapid growth, all while wars and feed costs created the occasional shell fracture.
Sustainability
- Global cage-free egg market $8.5 billion in 2022.
- 25% of global laying hens cage-free by end of 2022.
- EU 100% cage-free egg production mandated from 2027, 85% in 2022.
- Global carbon footprint of egg production 2.5 kg CO2 per kg eggs in 2022.
- Water usage in egg production averages 3,200 liters per kg eggs globally.
- Antibiotic use in global poultry reduced 20% from 2018 to 2022.
- Organic egg production grew 12% globally to 1.2 million MT in 2022.
- 15% reduction in ammonia emissions from EU egg farms 2015-2022.
- Global adoption of precision feeding in egg farms 35% in 2022.
- US cage-free hens reached 36% of total flock in 2022.
- Brazil sustainable egg initiatives cover 20% of production in 2022.
- Global egg industry recycled 90% of manure as fertilizer in 2022.
- Solar power usage in egg farms increased 25% globally 2021-2022.
- Welfare certifications held by 40% of global egg producers in 2022.
- Methane emissions from egg production 1.8% of livestock total in 2022.
- China piloted 100 carbon-neutral egg farms in 2022.
- Global trend: 50% egg producers adopt AVIAN influenza vaccines by 2022.
- Biodiversity programs on 10% of egg farms worldwide in 2022.
- Reduction in soy feed imports for sustainable eggs 8% in 2022.
- Global egg waste reduced to 5% through better logistics in 2022.
Sustainability Interpretation
The global egg industry is attempting to walk a tightrope, with one foot stepping towards a more humane and sustainable future—as seen in rising cage-free numbers and carbon-neutral pilots—while the other remains firmly planted in the immense environmental and logistical realities of feeding the world.
Trade
- Global egg exports reached 3.2 million metric tons in 2022.
- Netherlands was the top egg exporter with 0.95 million metric tons in 2022.
- United States exported 0.32 million metric tons of eggs in 2022.
- Poland exported 1.1 million metric tons in 2022, EU dominant.
- Turkey egg exports totaled 0.28 million metric tons in 2022.
- Hong Kong imported 0.55 million metric tons, top importer.
- Germany exported 0.42 million metric tons in 2022.
- China egg imports were 0.15 million metric tons in 2022.
- UAE imported 0.22 million metric tons in 2022.
- Belgium exports 0.38 million metric tons in 2022.
- Global shell egg trade value $4.5 billion in 2022.
- India egg exports minimal at 0.02 million metric tons in 2022.
- Russia exports dropped to 0.1 million metric tons due to sanctions.
- Brazil exported 0.12 million metric tons in 2022 to Middle East.
- Denmark shell egg exports 0.25 million metric tons in 2022.
- Japan imports 0.18 million metric tons annually in 2022.
- South Africa exports 0.05 million metric tons in 2022.
- EU intra-trade eggs 2.8 million metric tons in 2022.
- US top export markets: Canada, Mexico, Caribbean in 2022.
- Global egg powder trade 0.8 million metric tons in 2022.
- Netherlands export share 30% of global shell eggs in 2022.
- Asia-Pacific egg imports grew 5% to 1.2 million MT in 2022.
- Africa egg trade deficit 0.4 million MT in 2022.
Trade Interpretation
It seems the Dutch have truly mastered the art of not putting all their eggs in one basket, single-handedly cornering a third of the global market while the rest of the world scrambles to keep up with a $4.5 billion shell game.
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