Written by Ceyda CaglayanISTANBUL (Reuters) – Amid a crisis triggered by a bird flu outbreak in the United States causing supply disruptions and price spikes, Turkey has discreetly kicked off the export of approximately 15,000 tons of eggs to alleviate the situation, a top industry official revealed on Wednesday.
Ibrahim Afyon, the Chairman of the Egg Producers Central Union (YUM-BIR) in Turkey, disclosed to Reuters that shipments have commenced this month and are scheduled to persist until July. “The export will be facilitated by our member companies possessing the necessary authorizations, while two firms will oversee the coordination of the process,” Afyon elaborated. “A grand total of 15,000 tons of eggs — equating to 700 containers — will be dispatched.”
The U.S. has been diligently working to contain the spread of bird flu, which was initially identified in dairy cattle in Texas last March and has since expanded to multiple states. Since April, the virus has affected nearly 70 individuals, including one fatal case, predominantly among farm laborers who had been in contact with infected poultry or cattle. A poultry outbreak in 2022 has resulted in the loss of approximately 160 million chickens, turkeys, and other avian species, exacerbating the scarcity of eggs.
In response, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has conditionally authorized animal health company Zoetis to utilize a bird flu vaccine in poultry. Additionally, the agency is in the process of replenishing a stockpile of vaccines specifically tailored to combat the prevailing strain affecting commercial bird populations and wild birds.
Confronted with constraints in supply, American enterprises have explored alternative import markets, sparking negotiations with Turkish producers, as disclosed by Afyon. He projected that the agreement is poised to yield approximately $26 million in export earnings. Furthermore, Afyon underscored that Turkey holds a position among the top 10 egg exporting countries globally.
(Reporting by Ceyda Caglayan, Writing by Ece Toksabay; Editing by Jonathan Spicer, Alexandra Hudson)
