The cost of chicken eggs in Ukraine is growing rapidly, setting new records. At the Shuvar wholesale market in Lviv, a dozen eggs currently cost UAH 58.5, which is 58% more than last year's price of UAH 37. This situation has caused concern among both consumers and producers.

Experts identify several main reasons for this price increase. According to Tetyana Popovych, head of the marketing department of the Shuvar market, the first factor is the seasonal decline in chicken productivity due to the autumn cold snap. The second reason is the increase in the cost of poultry feed caused by the recovery of grain prices. Added to this is the active export of eggs to countries where prices are higher, which reduces supply on the domestic market.

The head of the All-Ukrainian Agrarian Council, Denys Marchuk, also notes that during the cold season, most households stop production, leaving the market to industrial producers. This exacerbates the deficit, and with it, an increase in prices. According to his forecasts, by the end of the year the cost of eggs may rise by another 10 UAH per dozen, but prices may stabilize in December.

The impact of the increase in the cost of eggs is already felt in trade. According to Maksym Kaminsky, head of the procurement department of the Varus supermarket chain, the purchase price from producers increased from 35 to 62 UAH per dozen, which affected the final price for consumers. This caused a 10% drop in egg sales, as high prices force buyers to reduce consumption.

Taras Vysotsky, First Deputy Minister of Agrarian Policy and Food, reported that in October 2024, egg production decreased by 5% compared to last year. He stressed that traditionally egg prices peak in November, after which they usually begin to gradually decline. According to him, if there are no power outages, a significant price drop is possible after the New Year.

According to the State Statistics Service, eggs rose in price by 18.1% in October and by 12.1% in September. If the export trend continues and the deficit remains, the purchase price may reach UAH 80 per dozen by the end of the year, which will further affect the cost for the end consumer. However, there is hope that after the winter holidays the market will stabilize, reducing the financial pressure on citizens.