It reminds of pandemic times, when many shelves were empty. Only this time it’s not flour or toilet paper that’s missing, but eggs. Since the beginning of March, there have been serious shortages in most supermarkets. Even on days such as Friday and Saturday, when food stores make sure to have more quantities, the egg shelves are half full, and recently completely empty, as in many stores of the Edeka chain in Berlin. “Due to supply issues, our eggs are currently unavailable or not available in full,” signs on the shelves read.
The Kaufland chain is trying to reassure its customers. “There may be temporary delays in the delivery of some products, but the daily supply ensures that the shelves will be filled again, as soon as possible,” customers are informed. A spokesperson for the Rewe chain revealed the cause: “The situation remains difficult for the entire industry due to bird flu and Newcastle disease.”
The risk is significant
Newcastle disease, like bird flu, is of viral origin and mainly affects chickens and poultry in general. The diseases last appeared 30 years ago in the country. Last February, several outbreaks were again detected in the states of Bavaria and Brandenburg. Experts estimate that the risk to poultry and other bird species in the country is significant because the diseases are highly contagious. They mainly affect hens and turkeys, but other types of birds can also carry the virus, transmit it and become ill. For consumers, diseases are not dangerous. According to the Friedrich-Loeffler Institute, the virus is shed through the secretions and feces of infected animals. Infected flocks must be killed immediately, birds, poultry meat and eggs must not be moved outside the designated quarantine zones.
In Brandenburg, for example, around 2.1 million animals were killed by the end of March. For the disease, mandatory vaccination is provided, but nevertheless, vaccinated animals are infected, albeit more difficult. According to the Federal Egg Association, which represents the industry in Germany, the effects of Newcastle disease and bird flu are already being felt strongly on farms. Due to the epidemics, the country has so far lost around 4% of its laying hens, said the head of the association, Hans-Peter Goldnick. This is a critical size given the high demand.
Increase in demand
This year’s outbreaks are an additional reason the problem is now visible on shelves. Because Germany cannot, anyway, fully cover its needs. Last year, egg production amounted to 15.3 billion eggs, slightly more than in 2024 (15.2 billion). As a result, the domestic demand is covered by only 72%, from the domestic production for the 4th consecutive year. To meet the demand, Germany has to import more than ¼ of its needs from other countries, the most important being the Netherlands at 69% and Poland at almost 16%. In the months before Easter, demand is significantly higher. Indicatively, last year in March and April, 1.1 billion eggs were bought in Germany, 14% more than in the other months of the year, as data from the YouGov Market Research Institute show. 90% of the eggs bought in those two months were white and raw, the rest dyed boiled.
From 2022, Germans are eating steadily more eggs every year. Per capita consumption averaged 252 eggs last year, 4 eggs more than in 2024. But why this increase? Josef Goss, head of the Federal Information Center for Agriculture (BZL), sees many reasons for this development. “Eggs are an economical source of high-quality protein, another reason could be the trend towards a vegetarian or low-carb diet,” he says.
Stinged prices after the summer
Shortages on the shelves also have an impact on the price of eggs, as they do on many other foods. According to data from the Federal Statistical Office, eggs were on average 14.5% more expensive in February than in the corresponding month in 2025. According to the information service Marktinfo Eier und Geflügel (MEG), wholesale prices are at very high levels. However, those who shop at low-cost supermarkets will not feel the shortages in their wallets. “The food retail sector has signed fixed annual contracts with producers,” said MEG expert Margit Beck. “There is no reason to increase prices before Easter.”
The Catholic Easter has passed and the Greeks of Germany have to go on a safari, from supermarket to supermarket, to secure even three dozen eggs for the traditional dyeing. The prices are stable, as we personally found out. But not for much longer. By the end of the summer, egg producers and food traders will be negotiating new supply contracts And this will mathematically lead to an increase in prices, given the general situation.
