Bird flu is putting new pressure on the European food market, and Spain and Portugal are at the center of this health storm. The issue gains urgency as outbreaks on laying hen farms multiply, reducing production and fueling predictions that the price of eggs could soar by Christmas.
In recent months, Spain has recorded several outbreaks of bird flu on large farms, forcing the slaughter of thousands of laying hens. This abrupt drop in supply comes in a market already pressured by high production costs, creating a scenario that has seen prices rise weekly in several Spanish regions.
The evolution is particularly worrying because the outbreaks are reaching areas with a high density of poultry production. In some autonomous communities, the reduction in flocks exceeded several percentage points, which immediately affects the balance of supply and demand.
With fewer eggs available, commercial stores and distributors warn of a continued increase in prices in the coming days, according to Spanish digital news portal Camposol.
A fragile Spanish market with falling production
Spanish authorities have imposed strict containment measures, including confinement of birds and restrictions on movement between farms. These rules, necessary to avoid new contagions, end up further limiting the capacity to respond in an already fragile sector. Producers’ fear is that new outbreaks will prolong the drop in production until the beginning of next year.
This impact is not limited to conventional productions. Certified farms, such as free-range or organic, are also feeling the pressure, as costs in these categories are higher and more sensitive to disruptions in the supply chain.
Portuguese alert regarding the earthquake in Spain
In Portugal, the evolution of the Spanish market is being closely monitored. In previous statements to Executive Digest, Pedro Ribeiro, secretary general of ANCAVE and FEPASA, had already admitted that outbreaks in the neighboring country could infect the Portuguese market.
The official recalls that commercial relations between the two countries are intense: “There are many external exchanges with Spain, both imports and exports”, he highlighted.
Although Portugal has registered few cases in recent years, Pedro Ribeiro recognizes that the worsening in Spain will have an inevitable impact: “If outbreaks continue to exist that affect large layer farms, this could be reflected in the national market.” And he adds that prices have already been under pressure for some time, so a new shock could intensify the rise.
The person in charge also recalls that similar episodes have already caused significant increases in other international markets: “In the United States this happened about a year ago. They had to slaughter millions of birds and there were times when a dozen eggs reached 8 or 10 dollars (About 7.44 to 9.30 euros).”
Risk of escalation until Christmas
As the Christmas season approaches, traditionally marked by a peak in consumption, the Spanish market is likely to remain under pressure. In some regions, there is already speculation that the dozen could reach values well above those recorded at the beginning of autumn, if the health situation does not stabilize quickly.
Bird flu has shown unpredictable behavior, with spikes in contagion that require rapid interventions and the closure of farms. This instability creates a chain of effects that goes from production to the final consumer, warns the same source.
Possible consequences in the Iberian Peninsula
The strong connection between the Portuguese and Spanish markets means that any worsening in Spain has a direct impact on Portugal. The national poultry sector admits that there may be increases in the price of eggs, even if more moderate, especially in categories with greater demand.
For now, Portugal maintains stable production, but the evolution of the neighboring country continues to be decisive. As Pedro Ribeiro highlights, “any disruption has an immediate impact on prices”.
Until the outbreaks stabilize, uncertainty will remain throughout the Iberian Peninsula, says . And, for consumers, this could mean a Christmas season marked by more expensive eggs and a more volatile market.
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