Sunita Somvanshi
The US is facing a severe egg shortage, driving prices up 59% year-on-year in February. This spike comes despite President Trump’s campaign promise to lower egg prices on his first day in office.
USDA Seeks European Eggs
The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) has formally reached out to Denmark and other European countries requesting egg imports. Letters reviewed by Reuters show a USDA representative in Europe contacted the Danish Egg Association in February about their ability to export eggs to the American market.
“We’re still waiting to get more guidance from Washington on next steps, but do you have an estimate of the number of eggs that could be supplied to the United States?” a USDA follow-up letter stated in early March.
Bird Flu Decimates US Supply
The primary cause of the shortage is an accelerating avian flu outbreak that has killed over 20 million egg-laying hens in American farms in 2024. This has severely disrupted US egg supply chains, which typically produce 7.5 billion dozen eggs annually, according to the American Egg Board.
Danish Response
The Danish Egg Association told reporters they’re open to sending eggs to the US over the next six months. However, they noted significant challenges:
“There is a shortage of eggs everywhere on a global scale because consumption is increasing and many are affected by bird flu,” the association stated.
The association also highlighted:
- No substantial egg surplus exists in Europe
- Easter demand is further tightening supplies
- The group will prioritize long-term customers over new US requests
- Different hygiene standards complicate exports (European eggs aren’t washed of their natural protective coating)
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Diplomatic Complications
The USDA’s outreach comes amid tense US-Denmark relations. President Trump has:
- Repeatedly claimed he would annex Greenland, Denmark’s self-governing territory
- Threatened economic sanctions against Denmark
- Made statements about seizing the island for its natural resources
- Called for a 200% tax on European alcohol imports
USDA’s Broader Strategy
Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins announced a $1 billion plan to combat the egg crisis. Beyond seeking Danish imports, the US has already arranged for Turkey to export approximately 15,000 tonnes of eggs to the US this year.
Supply Chain Challenges
Thomas Kull, professor of supply chain management at Arizona State University, notes potential obstacles:
- Infrastructure limitations for transporting large egg shipments
- The delicate nature of eggs makes transportation complex
- European suppliers may not have sufficient surplus
Kull suggests the administration’s European outreach may partly be to demonstrate action: “The ultimate goal is to show that something is being done, or someone’s trying to do something. You don’t know exactly what’s going to work.”
