Laying hens must be raised outdoors, rather than in cages.
For several days now, all French media have been reporting on disruptions in the supply of chicken eggs. Journalists attribute the egg shortage primarily to increased demand. On one hand, this is a fashion effect: the consumption of protein has become a trendy topic. High-protein diets are gaining popularity on social media. Athletes and influencers are promoting high-protein diets among their followers. On the other hand, the demand for eggs has risen against the backdrop of declining purchasing power: people can no longer afford to buy meat and poultry as often as before and are replacing animal protein in their diets with eggs.
The French consume more than 220 eggs per person per year. This means an additional need for 300 million eggs annually. France remains the leading European producer. In 2024, France produced nearly 15.5 billion eggs. The volume of egg production is increasing, but not quickly enough. To meet demand, it is necessary to add one million laying hens annually to the existing 47 million in France.
Moreover, the industry is undergoing a large-scale transformation with a clear goal: almost all laying hens must be raised outdoors, rather than in cages. This implies the construction of new henhouses and many other improvements.
While awaiting increased production, the use of imports remains limited, as most EU countries are experiencing a similar shortage. There are, of course, cheap incubator eggs from Ukraine, but they are mainly used in the food industry rather than sold at retail.
This month, the egg shortage has worsened due to snowfalls that have hindered supplies between regions, as well as increased demand for eggs for holiday baking. By the way, last year, some media attributed the egg shortage to the arrival of Ramadan, which sparked a wave of criticism towards journalists.
