The U.S.’ egg sector produced 9.45 billion eggs in December 2023, 3% above the December 2022 levels. The 2024 prices are also pointing towards an upward trajectory. 

A January 19, 2024 report by the Economic Research Service (ERS) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) shows that table egg production rose slightly in 2023. This however may not hold for 2024 due to losses of layer hens from avian influenza (HPAI).

For now, everybody is looking at the December breakthrough. The month produced a total of 8.14 billion table eggs or in-shell eggs, 1.3 billion hatching eggs and 1.21 billion broiler types. National egg production during this final month helped improve the outlook for a generally low production year plagued by avian concerns.

Egg-laying numbers also notched by 2% in December 2023 from the 2022 equivalent period, to 384 million layers. By January 1, 2024, there were 379 million layers, 1% up in comparison with January 1, 2023.

Egg Production in the States

Among the leading egg-producing states was Iowa, whose production levels echoed the national ones at 5%, better than December 2022’s. 

Mississippi, whose broiler production buoyed its agricultural returns of $8.8 billion in 2023, lost end-year egg totals by 2%.

At 546.5 million eggs, total egg production in November 2023 for neighboring Texas was higher than Mississippi’s 119.7 million units.  The “Magnolia State,” however, did better than neighboring Oklahoma, which only put out 45.9 million eggs in November. 

Egg Prices to Match Lowering Production

Despite the silver lining in late 2023 and early 2024, U.S. egg production will fall by an unknown percentage. This is according to National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS). With the avian flu-related dip, there will be a slight improvement in prices due to expected low supplies.

Consumers may not feel the pinch of a price rise since inflation in the poultry and egg sector is down.

While in the COVID-19 period of 2021-22 egg inflation rose by a staggering 32.2%, in 2023 it merely appreciated by 1.4%. Only pork, whose inflation diminished by 1.2%, had lower margins.

This means that the January 2024 national average price for a dozen eggs of $2.30 could only increase slightly. 

The prices may also change depending on the size of eggs on sale. In its January 29 weekly egg report, USDA showed these price differences. While extra-large eggs are selling for an average $2.08 per dozen, medium-sized ones are costing $1.66 a dozen.

Current prices echo trends of historical egg prices in the U.S., which usually go up whenever production is down.