Egg Prices in Türkiye Soar 140% in Nine Months

Egg prices in Türkiye have climbed to record levels, with a 140% increase over the past nine months, turning a once-basic food item into a luxury for low-income households. Experts warn that prices may continue to rise into the summer.

According to the Turkish Statistical Institute (TÜİK), egg prices rose 8.6% in March alone, pushing the total nine-month increase to 122%. The Union of Turkish Agricultural Chambers (TZOB) reported an even higher figure, saying prices have surged by 140%, raising the average price per egg to 7.25 TL—making a 30-egg carton cost nearly 218 TL on store shelves.

Bird Flu and Feed Prices Hit Supply Chains

The sharp increase stems from a combination of supply-side challenges. According to TÜİK data, egg production dropped 10.1% year-over-year in January, and the total decline over the past three months is recorded at 8%.

At the producer level, prices have more than doubled: from 2.36 TL per egg last year to 5.05 TL this year. This spike is driven by rising costs of feed ingredients like corn and soy, many of which are import-dependent and priced in foreign currency. Some feed components have seen cost hikes of up to 21%.

Exports and Avian Flu Further Fuel Inflation

According to agricultural analyst Gazi Kutlu, one of the key drivers behind the rising prices is export demand. The bird flu outbreak in the U.S. created a supply shortage, leading to increased egg exports from Türkiye, tightening domestic availability and inflating prices at home.

Kutlu noted that the avian flu outbreak in Türkiye late last year also disrupted local production.

“With domestic consumption expected to rise during the summer and the start of the tourism season, we may see egg prices reach 10 TL per unit. Eggs have clearly become a luxury item, and this trend is not likely to reverse anytime soon,”
he said.