Turkey has begun exporting around 15,000 tons of eggs to the United States due to the outbreak of bird flu. This egg export addresses shortages caused by Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI), which disrupted supply chains and increased prices.
Ibrahim Afyon, Chairman of the Egg Producers Central Union (YUM-BIR) in Turkey, told Reuters that the shipments started this month and will continue until July. “The export will take place through our member companies with the required authorizations, while two firms will coordinate the process,” Afyon said. “A total of 15,000 tons of eggs – equivalent to 700 containers – will be sent there”. He added.
Due to limited supply, U.S. buyers have turned to alternative import markets, resulting in negotiations with Turkish producers, Afyon said. The agreement is projected to generate approximately $26 million in export revenue.
Since the outbreak of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) started in 2022, the U.S. egg industry has encountered severe supply disruptions. The initial HPAI case in a commercial layer flock was confirmed on February 22, 2022, in New Castle County, Delaware.
In 2025 alone, HPAI has affected 32 commercial laying hen flocks in the U.S, as reported by the USDA and Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS). Confirmed cases have occurred in California, North Carolina, Ohio, Indiana, Missouri, Washington, Arizona, Iowa, and Pennsylvania.
In response, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has conditionally approved Zoetis’ bird flu vaccine for poultry and is working to rebuild a vaccine stockpile specific to the strain affecting commercial flocks and wild birds.
According to the Department of Agriculture, over 21 million laying hens have been culled this year due to the disease. In December alone, 13.2 million were affected in the same way.
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