USDA, FAS release egg statistics

According to the latest statistics issued by the USDA Economic Research Service and the Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS), cumulative exports for the first eight months of 2009 amounted to 77.2 million dozen shell eggs.
This represents a 7% increase over the corresponding period in 2008.
On an annualized basis, shell egg exports in 2009 would amount to 115 million dozen, representing the output of five million hens or 1.8% of the national flock. Among the significant importers, Canada declined by 8% to 21.5 million dozen, compensated by a 16% increase in exports of 16.2 million dozen to Hong Kong. Exports to unspecified countries, including the Caribbean, increased by 4% to 25.4 million dozen.
According to USAPEEC, an average of 74 cents per dozen was obtained for shell eggs. Exports of egg products expressed as shell egg equivalents attained 67 million dozen for the first eight months of 2009, which was virtually unchanged from the value in 2008.
Japan reduced imports by 38% to 14 million dozen shell-equivalents, but this was compensated by a 273% increase in exports to Canada (5.3 million shell-equivalents) and a 50% increase to Germany. China showed a significant drop from 3.8 million dozen shell-equivalents to 283,000 dozen. This virtually identical reduction in volume occurred previously between 2005 and the precipitous drop in 2006.Total exports of shell eggs and products expressed as shell-equivalents represent the output of seven million hens or 2.6% of the national flock and constitutes an important market stabilizing factor.