The wide difference in egg prices between the United States and Mexico causes American consumers to come to the border strip between the two countries to buy eggs and save $4 dollars, said the Agricultural Market Consulting Group (GCMA).
The problem is that, by increasing the demand for the clandestine sale of eggs in the border strip, the availability of eggs in the national market can be impacted and prices in Mexico can increase.
The rise in prices in the last year is a consequence of the avian influenza that affects both countries, which caused egg prices to double their value in the United States, while in Mexico the increase was 30%.
For example, the average price of a kilo of white eggs in Mexico rose from $1.65 dollars to $2.15 from January 2022 to January 2023, while in the United States, they went from $3.15 to $6.55 in the same period.
In the GCMA analysis of the Impact of highly pathogenic avian influenza on the price of eggs in the United States and its effect in Mexico, the consulting firm explained that “the wide difference in prices between the two countries has caused clandestine marketing in the border area between Mexico and the United States
With the problem that “the national egg output has a negative impact on the supply, a situation that, added to the perception of less availability, generates speculation and drives prices up in our country.”
Despite the fact that the number of infected and culled birds is low in both countries, there is speculation and fear of a possible shortage, which led the United States to restrict the importation of raw eggs from Mexico, leading to clandestine sales in the border strip, explained the consulting firm.
GCMA explained that in Mexico vaccination prevented a drop in egg production, which maintains the regular supply since only 0.3% of the national inventory was affected.
While in the United States, the impact was 3% of production, due to avian influenza.
Although the Consulting Group observes that the pressures due to the greater demand in the border strip must be taken care of, it affirmed that for the moment the supply and supply of eggs in Mexico remains regular.
