“$10 or more for a dozen eggs in major cities like New York and Chicago”, as reported by the Wall Street Journal on the 16th (local time), the phenomenon referred to as ‘Eggflation’ continues in the U.S. This has led to an increase in egg smuggling at the borders with Mexico and Canada.
According to the WSJ, the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) reported that since October of last year, the number of seizures of eggs at the Mexican border has increased by about 160% compared to the previous year. The U.S. Department of Agriculture has prohibited the import of eggs due to concerns such as infectious diseases, and those caught importing eggs face a minimum fine of $300.
The WSJ noted, “Smugglers are increasingly purchasing eggs from Mexico, where they cost about a third of the U.S. price, and illegally bringing them in.” According to labor department data, the average price of a dozen eggs across the U.S. is currently about $6. In major cities like New York and Chicago, prices have surged to over $10, double the price compared to the same period last year.
Previously, in the U.S., the spread of avian influenza led to a sharp increase in egg prices starting last month. The Trump administration announced plans to invest 1 billion dollars in response. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins stated, “We plan to increase imports to address the egg shortage,” adding that “around 16,000 tons of eggs will be imported, particularly from countries like Turkey.”