Figure are industry estimates for 2009 unless otherwise stated.
| Egg market size (industry estimate) |
| UK Production |
8,847 million eggs |
| Imports |
2,373 million eggs |
| Exports |
235 million eggs |
| Total UK Consumption |
10,985 million eggs (+2%) |
| Number of eggs eaten in the UK (industry estimate) |
| Total per annum |
10,985 million |
| Per capita |
187 |
| Number per day |
30 million |
| Market shares (approx, by volume, industry estimate) |
| Retail shell eggs |
46% |
| Egg products |
24% |
| Wholesale/catering shell eggs |
30% |
| Retail market value |
| Sales |
£844m |
| Production costs - Ex farm cost of production of a dozen eggs (Source: NFU) |
| Pence/dozen |
Cage |
Free range |
| 2009 |
61.6 |
85.8 |
| Retail sector - outlet share (TNS Superpanel) |
| Multiples |
83.5% |
| Co-ops |
4.5% |
| Market Stalls |
2.5% |
| Independents |
1.7% |
| Butchers |
1.5% |
| Milkmen |
0.8% |
| Others |
5.5% |
| 2008 Egg type breakdown |
| Total Market (Defra) |
| Laying cage |
58% |
| Free Range |
38% (inc estimated 5% organic) |
| Barn |
4% |
| Retail Sector |
| Laying cage |
53% |
| Free Range |
43% (inc estimated 5% organic) |
| Barn |
4% |
| UK laying flocks |
| 2008 UK (est) |
29m hens in laying flocks |
| 2007 UK |
27.32m hens in laying flocks |
| 2006 UK |
28.63m hens in laying flocks |
| 2006 breakdown |
| England |
22.6m laying hens |
| Northern Island |
2.2m laying hens |
| Scotland |
2.7m laying hens |
| Wales |
1.1m laying hens |
| No. of packers/producers |
| 2007 (Defra, Agriculture in the UK) |
| 1 to 999 birds |
29,100 holdings |
| 1,000 to 4,999 |
500 holdings |
| 5,000 to 19,999 |
500 holdings |
| 20,000+ |
300 holdings |
| Total |
30,400 holdings |
| Imports to the UK of eggs in shell for consumption (Source: Defra, 2008) |
| Country | '000 Eggs |
| Netherlands |
387,469 |
| France |
388,306 |
| Germany |
333,592 |
| Spain |
302,181 |
| Irish Republic |
62,742 |
| Denmark |
20,648 |
| Belgium |
27,913 |
| Poland |
22,778 |
| Portugal |
5,507 |
| Italy |
7,183 |
| Bulgaria |
11,041 |
| Finland |
4,213 |
| Czech Republic |
462 |
| Grand Total | 1,574,034 |
Please click here for archive figures 2004 - 2008
