Australia’s egg industry is scrambling to recover from a crisis that has left supermarket shelves bare and consumers struggling to find affordable cartons of eggs.
The once-reliable breakfast staple has become a rare commodity, with prices soaring and availability dwindling. From the cafes of Melbourne to the suburban grocery stores of Brisbane, Australians are feeling the pinch of an egg shortage that shows no sign of easing.
With approximately 1.8 million chickens culled due to bird flu since June 2024, this situation has caused major disruptions in the egg supply chain across the country, affecting retailers and consumers alike.
With biosecurity threats and skyrocketing production costs contributing to the crisis, experts warn that the egg shortage could have long-term implications for the broader food supply chain.
Avian influenza crisis
At the heart of Australia’s egg shortage is a severe outbreak of avian influenza, also known as bird flu. The Australian egg industry has been hit hard by this virus, which has led to the culling of millions of birds.
In 2023 alone, the outbreak caused significant losses to farms across NSW, Victoria, and Queensland, with thousands of laying hens infected or culled to prevent further spread of the virus.
Avian influenza has wreaked havoc on the global poultry industry in recent years, but Australia’s relatively isolated position has until recently shielded it from some of the worst outbreaks. In 2022 and 2023 though, the spread of the virus in commercial poultry farms and wild bird populations led to a rapid decline in the availability of eggs.
Industry groups estimate that as much as 20 per cent of Australia’s egg-laying hens have been affected, exacerbating the shortage.
ABC News recently reported that the effects of both avian influenza and seasonal conditions as the main problems surrounding the current demand for eggs.
Joshua Murray, founder of Josh’s Rainbow Eggs, spoke to ABC News discussing his concerns, ‘It takes an incredible amount of foresight and investment to increase production… so I think that’s why you’re not seeing many eggs on the shelf.’
Rising cost
Beyond the avian flu, another factor contributing to the shortage is the rising cost of egg production.
According to recent reports, the average price of a dozen eggs has jumped by up to 30 per cent in some regions, with prices now hovering around $6 to $8 per dozen.
Rising egg costs and limited availability are certainly taking a toll on many Australians. The sights of empty supermarket shelves begin to seem all too familiar to that of the COVID-19 toilet paper shortage.
For now, Australians will need to adapt, whether by paying higher prices, switching to alternatives, getting their eggs from local sources or hoping for a recovery in the months to come.
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