Prospects For Expanding Egg Consumption
An examination of egg consumption around the world, from an industry perspective, reveals that long-term consumption will continue to grow and in “developing” countries the growth will be in purchases of shell eggs.
Among developed nations, eggs are now perceived by many to be a healthier part of the human diet. In the United States, approximately 30% of all eggs consumed are processed and consumed in forms other than shell eggs; analysts believe this may rise to account for 50% of all egg production by 2020.
Per capita egg consumption varies by country, from a low of 47 eggs per year in India to a high of 345 eggs per year in Mexico. To some extent, this variability in consumption is a function of supply. However, there is also a large margin of error in measuring egg consumption in certain countries due to several factors including the method of inventory used.
In developed economies, changes in real income have little or no effect on egg purchases, while in developing countries changes income can play a significant role on the number of eggs purchased. Population and real income growth are two key factors affecting demand for eggs in these countries; there is also less concern about whether layers are kept in cages or not, or whether eggs can negatively effect blood cholesterol levels.