Israel Secures 28 Million Eggs for Holidays Amidst Weather Challenges and Supply Disruptions

Israel's Ministry of Agriculture has granted approval for the import of 28 million eggs from Ukraine, Spain, and Poland to avert any potential shortage during the upcoming holidays. Despite recent fluctuations in the exchange rate of the dollar and the euro, consumers will not face increased costs, as the imported egg prices will remain stable through vigilant monitoring.

This proactive measure comes in stark contrast to the events of 2020, when a severe egg shortage leading up to Passover compelled the state to import 30 million eggs and provide safety nets for importers facing difficulty in selling. The current year, however, is anticipated to experience no such scarcity, with a lone exception for large eggs categorized as 'large.' This scarcity can be attributed to the unfortunate demise of tens of thousands of laying hens due to an intense heatwave, resulting in a shortage of mature layers that typically produce these larger eggs. Distressingly, over 10,000 chickens perished in Moshav Margaliot alone, as these mature layers are particularly vulnerable to abnormal temperature fluctuations.

Shmuel Lesser, the proprietor of Lesser Company, Israel's leading egg marketer, expressed the challenges posed by recent geopolitical developments, including the war in Ukraine, a significant egg supplier. These events, coupled with currency exchange rate fluctuations, have complicated the import of eggs in terms of both pricing and associated risks. Lesser recounted a recent incident where a supplier failed to deliver eggs on time due to a port departure, leading to a decrease in egg value upon arrival.

Lesser emphasized that despite potential losses, his company is committed to importing eggs for Rosh Hashanah to ensure a continuous supply and prevent shortages during the holidays. He highlighted the company's advanced preparations to meet high holiday demand.

Israel has a substantial annual egg consumption rate, averaging 250 eggs per capita, and the country's hens collectively produce around two million eggs each year. Notably, the local food industry primarily relies on egg powders, given their extended shelf life of two years and space efficiency in storage. Egg powders are utilized in baked goods, sauces, and other culinary applications.

Lesser's enterprise, Cham 2000, uniquely processes eggs into powders and offers ready-to-eat frozen omelets to institutional entities, including the Israel Defense Forces, hotels, and airlines. To address increasing demand, Lesser Company has invested eight million shekels in a cutting-edge egg drying production line, which promises to reduce energy consumption by 30%. This strategic move is aimed at addressing the rising costs of imported egg powders due to fluctuating exchange rates.

Cham 2000 is hopeful that local manufacturers importing egg powders will now prefer domestically produced alternatives, spurred by the surge in prices for imported products abroad.

As the holiday season approaches, Israel's egg market remains watchful and prepared to ensure a consistent supply of this essential commodity, despite the challenges posed by both nature and global dynamics.