Egg smuggling to the USA increases sharply

Egg smuggling to the USA has increased dramatically as a consequence of the egg crisis in the country. Compared to last year, the seizures of eggs have increased by 36 percent, reports the customs and border protection agency CBP.

» Published: March 16 2025

Egg smuggling to the USA increases sharply
Photo: Nam Y. Huh/AP/TT

The main smuggling route goes from Mexico to the USA, which is otherwise most associated with fentanyl and other drugs. At the border station in San Diego, California, seizures of eggs have more than doubled this year.

It's due to the price difference. The price (of eggs) is about a third of what it is in the USA, says Roger Maier, spokesperson for CBP, to Wall Street Journal.

Several outbreaks of bird flu are behind the egg shortage in the USA. Since December last year, more than 13 million hens have been killed. It has caused "eggflation" and the price of a dozen eggs has almost doubled in a year.

Several food chains have also introduced restrictions on how many eggs customers can buy.

The American agricultural department is now trying to step up imports of controlled and approved eggs.

Turkey has started shipping around 16,000 tons of eggs to the USA. Producers in Sweden, Denmark, and Finland have also received inquiries, but the response has been lukewarm.

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By TTTranslated and adapted by Sweden Herald
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