Global Egg Consumption Keeps Rising as Emerging Markets Drive Poultry Industry Growth

Worldwide demand for eggs continues to expand, supported by their affordability, nutritional value and versatility. Although growth is expected to moderate over the coming decade, emerging economies could account for nearly 90% of additional demand, creating new opportunities and challenges for the poultry industry.

Eggs are strengthening their position as one of the world’s most widely consumed animal-source foods, with demand continuing to increase across both developed and emerging markets.

According to the Global Egg Industry Outlook 2035, developed by Rabobank in collaboration with the World Egg Organisation (WEO), the global egg market is projected to expand by approximately 2% annually between 2025 and 2035.

This would represent a cumulative increase of around 22% over the decade, supported by population growth, rising incomes, urbanization and greater access to affordable protein.

However, the opportunities will not be distributed evenly. While emerging economies are expected to drive most additional consumption, established markets are increasingly focusing on product differentiation, animal welfare and higher-value egg products.

Global egg production has expanded dramatically

The growing popularity of eggs is reflected in the substantial expansion of global production over recent decades.

According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), worldwide egg production reached approximately 94 million metric tons in 2022, compared with around 15 million metric tons in 1961.

More recent estimates from Rabobank indicate that the global egg market reached approximately 98 million metric tons in 2025 and could approach 119 million metric tons by 2035.

Although these figures reflect different statistical methodologies and reporting periods, they illustrate the scale of the industry’s expansion.

Egg production has benefited from advances in laying hen genetics, feed formulation, housing systems, flock health management and production efficiency.

At the same time, eggs have maintained a strong position among consumers because they offer a convenient source of high-quality protein and several essential nutrients.

Emerging economies will drive most additional demand

One of the most important findings from the Rabobank and WEO outlook is the increasingly prominent role of emerging markets.

The report estimates that nearly 90% of additional global egg demand through 2035 will originate in emerging economies, particularly across Asia, Africa and Latin America.

Several factors are contributing to this development.

Rising household incomes can improve access to animal-source foods, while urbanization and the expansion of modern food retail systems make eggs more widely available.

Population growth will remain important in parts of Africa and South and Southeast Asia, where relatively low per capita consumption creates opportunities for market expansion.

However, demographic growth is only one part of the equation.

Improvements in egg availability, distribution infrastructure, food service development and consumer preferences are expected to play an increasingly important role.

For poultry producers, these trends may create opportunities to expand domestic production, modernize supply chains and develop products adapted to local consumption patterns.

Latin America demonstrates strong demand for eggs

Latin America provides a particularly interesting example of how egg consumption can increase as eggs become more established in household diets.

According to figures presented by World Egg Organisation economist Peter van Horne at the organization’s September 2026 conference, Mexico, Argentina and Colombia were among the countries reporting the highest per capita egg consumption.

The reported estimates placed Mexico at approximately 410 eggs per person annually, Argentina close to 400 and Colombia around 365.

These figures illustrate the importance of eggs in regional food cultures, although the WEO cautions that national consumption estimates are calculated using different methods and should not be treated as directly comparable rankings.

Brazil’s egg consumption continues to increase

Brazil is another market experiencing substantial growth.

According to the Brazilian Association of Animal Protein (ABPA), per capita egg consumption increased from approximately 142 eggs in 2006 to 288 in 2025.

The association projects consumption could reach 301 eggs per person in 2026, representing more than twice the level recorded two decades earlier.

Brazilian egg production is also expected to increase, with ABPA forecasting approximately 64.8 billion eggs in 2026, compared with 62.3 billion in 2025.

The Brazilian poultry sector attributes this expansion to consumer confidence in eggs as a versatile and relatively affordable protein source, alongside improvements in production efficiency, distribution and product availability.

Egg consumption is also increasing in established markets

Although emerging economies are expected to account for most future growth, demand remains resilient in several mature markets.

In the United States, the October 2026 WATTPoultry report cited projections indicating that per capita egg consumption could increase from approximately 263.8 eggs in 2025 to 269.5 in 2026.

The same report indicated a possible increase to approximately 285.1 eggs per person by 2035.

These figures reflect the continuing importance of eggs in the American diet, although annual consumption can fluctuate in response to prices, production availability and disease-related disruptions.

In the United Kingdom, industry estimates indicate that total egg consumption reached approximately 14.5 billion eggs in 2025, an increase of around 5% compared with the previous year.

Annual per capita consumption was estimated at 209 eggs, with demand supported by home cooking, breakfast consumption and the growing popularity of convenient egg-based meals.

Meanwhile, France reported record egg consumption in 2025, with an average of approximately 237 eggs per person, compared with 227 in 2024.

These developments suggest that eggs continue to attract consumers even in markets where animal protein consumption is already relatively high.

Affordability and nutritional value support consumer demand

Several characteristics help explain why eggs remain an attractive food across different income groups.

Eggs provide high-quality protein containing all essential amino acids, alongside nutrients such as choline, vitamin B12, selenium and other vitamins and minerals.

They are also versatile, relatively easy to prepare and widely incorporated into different culinary traditions.

Compared with many other animal protein sources, eggs can offer a relatively accessible option for households seeking nutritious foods while managing grocery expenses.

However, their affordability depends on local production costs, market conditions and supply availability.

Periods of elevated feed prices or outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza can significantly affect egg prices, sometimes reducing the economic advantage consumers normally associate with the product.

The continued expansion of egg consumption therefore depends not only on nutritional appeal, but also on maintaining stable production and distribution systems.

What does growing egg demand mean for poultry nutrition?

For the animal nutrition industry, increasing egg demand creates opportunities to improve the productivity and efficiency of laying hen production systems.

Meeting higher demand sustainably will require continued progress in feed conversion, nutrient utilization, laying persistency, egg quality and flock health.

Feed formulation is particularly important because nutrition influences both the number of eggs produced and their physical and nutritional characteristics.

As the global layer industry expands, nutritional strategies that improve productivity without proportionally increasing resource consumption will become increasingly important.

However, improvements in feed efficiency must be balanced with animal health, welfare and the physiological requirements of high-producing laying hens.

Avian influenza remains a major risk to egg supply

Despite the positive consumption outlook, the egg industry continues to face significant biological and economic challenges.

Among the most important is highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), which can cause substantial losses in commercial laying flocks.

According to the FAO’s 2025 Food Outlook, HPAI has become one of the most significant biological threats affecting global poultry production.

The effects are particularly pronounced in the laying sector because flock losses can interrupt egg production for extended periods while replacement birds are reared.

Disease-related supply disruptions can also increase price volatility and complicate production planning.

These risks reinforce the importance of strong biosecurity programs, disease surveillance, effective flock management and resilient supply chains.

Animal welfare and value-added products reshape mature markets

While growth in emerging economies is largely associated with increasing consumption and market access, established markets are undergoing a different transformation.

According to Rabobank and the WEO, consumers in higher-income markets are increasingly interested in products differentiated by animal welfare, sustainability, production methods and nutritional characteristics.

This includes growing commercial attention to cage-free and free-range production systems, organic eggs and products enriched with selected nutrients.

In the United Kingdom, industry data indicate that free-range eggs accounted for approximately 78% of retail egg sales in 2025.

Such changes create opportunities for producers to capture additional value, but they can also require investment in housing, management and production infrastructure.

Alternative production systems may involve different nutritional and management requirements, particularly when hens have access to outdoor environments.

Consequently, the future competitiveness of egg producers will depend partly on their ability to adapt to changing market expectations while maintaining efficient and responsible production.

Local production and digital technologies will shape future expansion

Another distinctive feature of the global egg industry is its relatively limited international trade.

According to the WEO and Rabobank outlook, only around 2% of eggs are traded internationally, meaning most production is intended for domestic or regional consumption.

This creates opportunities for investment in local production capacity, particularly in countries where consumption is expected to increase substantially.

However, expanding production requires reliable access to feed ingredients, breeding stock, veterinary services, infrastructure and distribution networks.

Digital technologies are also expected to play an increasingly important role.

Automated monitoring systems, precision feeding technologies and data-driven management tools may help producers optimize performance, identify health problems earlier and improve traceability.

Rabobank identifies digitalization, artificial intelligence and greater vertical integration among the structural changes likely to influence the egg industry through 2035.

For producers, these developments could improve operational efficiency while supporting more consistent product quality and supply chain management.

A growing market with new expectations for the poultry industry

The global outlook for eggs remains positive, with consumption expected to increase across a wide range of markets over the next decade.

However, the drivers of growth are changing.

In emerging economies, rising incomes, population growth and improved availability are expected to support higher consumption.

In mature markets, innovation, animal welfare and differentiated products are becoming increasingly important sources of value.

For poultry producers and feed manufacturers, these trends highlight the importance of improving productivity while responding to evolving consumer expectations.

Advances in layer nutrition, disease prevention, production technologies and environmental management will be essential to meeting additional demand efficiently.

Ultimately, the industry’s challenge will be to ensure that more eggs can be produced and distributed reliably, affordably and responsibly, allowing this versatile source of animal protein to remain accessible to consumers around the world.