Bird flu trigger egg shortage in Poland

The Polish egg market is facing a severe supply crisis due to large-scale outbreaks of avian influenza and Newcastle disease. According to Katarzyna Gawrońska, director of the National Chamber of Poultry and Feed Producers, the shortage is affecting not only Poland but also several neighboring European countries. The deficit is being partially offset by egg imports from Ukraine, Turkey, and Brazil.

Between October 2025 and March 2026, around 7 million laying hens were culled in Poland because of avian influenza. Over the past three months, the veterinary situation has deteriorated further, resulting in the loss of another 7 million hens. To help fill the supply gap, retailers have also increased egg purchases from Romania, the Netherlands, and Belgium.

The recovery of egg production is expected to take time due to a shortage of replacement birds. Industry representatives say that demand for laying hens and day-old chicks significantly exceeds production capacity in Poland and across the European Union. This makes it difficult to rebuild flocks quickly following the massive disease-related losses.

Additional pressure on the market comes from major retailers’ efforts to phase out cage eggs. Since nearly 60% of Poland’s egg production comes from cage systems, these restrictions have further reduced available supplies and contributed to a sharp rise in prices. Industry representatives argue that the market was not adequately prepared for the combined impact of disease outbreaks and changing retail policies.