The most common dozen eggs costs over three euros

BarcelonaEggs, a staple in the shopping basket, have seen a significant price increase, especially since August, due to a combination of two factors: increased consumption and, more recently, the avian flu outbreak. As a result, a dozen of the most common eggs, medium-sized, reached €2.40 at the farm gate, compared to €1.90 at the beginning of October, representing a 26% increase, according to data from the Bellpuig Exchange, one of the country's main exchanges. Other sizes, such as XL, also experienced the same trend, reaching €2.88 per dozen, an increase of almost 20% in two months. This means that a dozen of the most common eggs, medium-sized, now costs well over €3 in stores, whereas just a few days ago they were around €2.

Furthermore, the recent measures by the Ministry of Agriculture ordering the confinement of breeding birds on all poultry farms in the country, even though the epidemic affecting birds has not affected, for example, any farms in Catalonia, are expected to cause further price increases.

According to experts, in the case of free-range hens, accustomed to being raised outdoors, confinement may initially cause them stress and lead to fewer eggs. In total, the laying hen population exceeds 50.7 million, of which 8.5% are on farms in Catalonia, according to data from the Ministry of Agriculture. Currently, there are around 4,000 active laying hen farms in Catalonia, with more than 5 million laying hens. Of these farms, more than 90% are for self-consumption.

In any case, the sector assures that there are no supply problems in sight, since more eggs are produced in Spain than are consumed. In fact, the sector exports between 15 and 20% of its production, which totals almost one million tons. Despite concerns about avian flu, data from the National Institute of Statistics (INE) indicates that the price increase for eggs began in March, before the outbreak of the disease affecting birds. The Minister of Agriculture, Luis Planas, stated this week that the price increase for eggs is not linked to avian flu.

Another factor contributing to the price increase, which according to the minister began in 2021, is the increase in consumption. Between January and July of this year, egg consumption was 15% higher than that recorded in the same period of 2015, according to data from the Ministry of Agriculture, while volume has increased by 22% over the last decade in Spain, according to data from the consulting firm Numerator (formerly Kantar). This trend contrasts with the 3% drop in volume experienced by mass-consumption products between 2014 and 2025, according to a study reported by Efeagro. Demand for eggs has continued to grow despite rising prices and is among the three categories with the greatest price increases since the beginning of 2025.