Romanian egg producers are facing an avalanche of export offers, in the context in which Germany, France and other European countries affected by bird flu are looking for imported goods to cover the shortage on the market. The situation puts pressure on Romanian retailers, who warn that stocks are decreasing, as goods are increasingly sent abroad.
European countries are supplementing their production affected by bird flu. PHOTO: Freepik
While many farmers accept the tempting sums from outside the country, with exports reaching, according to industry estimates, almost 40% of total production, a producer from Călărași County chose to remain loyal to Romanian customers.
The farmer, who supplies eggs to two major supermarket chains, says that although he receives offers for export every day, he does not want to abandon his traditional partners.
“We also saw that there is talk about this crisis, but I think it is just a wave that will pass. I also received offers for export, very tempting I admit, but I preferred to maintain the relationship and the contract with the two chains of stores where I currently deliver. So the production should remain in the country”, said Faur Enur for Agrointelligence – AGROINTEL.RO. The producer delivers 2-3 truckloads of eggs weekly to the local market.
He admits that many farmers have decided to take advantage of the moment to recover losses from previous years, when low prices forced them to cover costs from their own resources.
Good prices in Europe attract Romanian farmers
Large countries such as Germany and France are supplementing their production affected by avian flu through imports. For Romanian farmers, the price difference is enough to temporarily abandon domestic contracts, which leads to supply problems in some stores in Romania.
Chicken producers, in the opposite situation
The Ialomița farmer Puiu Ilisei, the owner “Bărăgan Chicken”says that while egg producers are taking advantage of the crisis, those in the chicken meat industry are facing dramatic price drops due to massive imports from Ukraine and Poland.
“It’s been the opposite for us for a week or so, as in the case of eggs: the price has dropped all the way down because of imports from Ukraine and Poland. Chicken meat exports have also dropped significantly, from 30% to 15% of production, recently.” explained to Ilisa.
Minister of Agriculture: “There will never be an egg crisis”
The Minister of Agriculture, Florin Barbu, claims that Romania produces far more than it needs for consumption and that the country has a degree of self-sufficiency of 125%.
“There will never be an egg crisis”, says the minister, who blames the lack of product in some stores on commercial issues between retailers and manufacturers. Barbu requested the intervention of the Ministry of Economy and the Competition Council, suspecting unfair commercial practices.
“There are two stores that have ended up in this crisis (…) it is a commercial relationship, the Ministry of Economy and the Competition Council must intervene. (…) It is possible that there are unfair commercial practices”, said Minister Florin Barbu.
The minister states that Romania can export up to one billion eggs annually and believes that the current syncope will be regulated.
