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EU producing and eating less eggs
Egg production in the EU will be considerably lower
this year, with the equivalent of three fewer eggs per inhabitant being eaten
compared to last year, according to the German statistical service
ZMP.
When EU-25 national estimates for 2006 are tallied, the result is a total
volume of almost 1.6 million tones - 2 percent less than in 2005. The figures
for the EU-15 tally to 5.5 million tones - 1.5 percent less than in 2005.
The EU's top egg producer is still France, with 980,000 tonnes, followed by
the UK with an estimated 818,000 tonnes, and then Spain with 800,000 tonnes.
Italy is next with 780,000 tonnes and Germany ranks fifth with an estimated
776,000 tonnes of eggs produced in 2006.
Significant reductions in egg production compared to 2005 could be observed
particularly in Belgium and Spain. Belgian egg farms are in dire need of
alternative housing system upgrades. Where necessary developments are not
underway, production has ceased entirely. A lower than anticipated export market
for Spain led to lower production levels for 2006.
Unlike in the poultry meat sector, it is believed that the declining egg
production rates cannot be attributed to the
bird
flu issue.
Across the EU, a consistent decline in egg consumption can be observed.
This trend is thought to be based on changes in Europeans' consumption patterns
and a dwindling image of the egg as a product.
Up until now calculations for the EU-25 showed a per capita consumption of
13.1 kg in 2005, which is 300 grams less than in 2004. For 2006 a further
decline of 200 grams is expected, the equivalent of about three eggs per person
per year.
Editor WorldPoultry
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