Increased egg prices in the United States has caused a growth in seizure of smuggled products at the borders with Mexico and Canada, according to US Border Customs and Protection (CBP) data.
The increase in cases of irregular transport is associated with attempting consumers to circumvent inflation and purchase the product at lower prices in the informal market.
CBP data indicate that illegal egg attempts in the country grew 36% in the current fiscal year. In specific areas of Texas, this percentage reached 54%. In San Diego, California, the number of cases more than doubled.
The main reason is the price difference between countries. In February, the dozen large eggs in the United States reached an average value of $ 5.90, almost double the one recorded in the same period of the previous year.
In Mexican cities near the border, the same amount is sold for less than $ 2, becoming an option for consumers seeking to reduce costs.
The pricing is related to the sanitary crisis due to the outbreak of Avian flu, which since 2022 has led to the slaughter of more than 166 million birds in the United States. The reduction of supply directly impacted the market and pressured prices.
In response, the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) has banned unjustified eggs, alleging risk of contamination and dissemination of diseases by products without health control.
Even with the ban, consumers continue to cross the border with egg boxes for their own consumption. According to reports from CBP agents quoted by the Wall Street Journal, “most people simply do not know that it is forbidden to bring eggs from Mexico or Canada.”
In El Paso, for example, 90 attempts to irregular egg entry were recorded, with fines of up to $ 300 for non -recurrence offenders. All seized products are incinerated by health security measure.
A recent case caught the authorities’ attention: 100,000 organic eggs were stolen in an facility near the border between the states of Pennsylvania and Maryland. The occurrence is being investigated by local authorities.
The United States government has announced measures to mitigate the effects of the crisis. The USDA has reported that it intends to invest up to $ 1 billion in facing the increase in egg costs, of which half will be intended to reinforce biosafety in the farms.
The Secretary of Agriculture, Brooke Rollins, also stated that the government is studying to expand imports of inspected eggs, with the objective of balancing supply in the domestic market.
Meanwhile, producing countries have expanded their participation in the global market. Brazil, traditionally focused on domestic consumption, raised its exports to the increase in international demand.
In the first two months of the year, the country embarked 4,884 tons of eggs, growth of 38.2% compared to the same period of 2024, according to the Brazilian Association of Animal Protein (ABPA).
In February alone, 2,527 tons were exported, up 57.5% over the same month of the previous year. The main destinations were the United Arab Emirates and the United States themselves, which imported more than 500 tons each.
Despite export growth, Brazil also records an increase in internal prices. According to the National Consumer Price Index (IPCA), egg price rose 15.39% last month. However, the country still maintains supply stability and has not faced the risk of shortages so far.
US authorities follow the situation at the borders and evaluate new actions to contain the increase in smuggling. The inflationary scenario in the food sector follows as one of the main challenges for economic and food security policy in the United States.
Source: https://www.ocafezinho.com/2025/03/21/disparada-no-preco-dos-ovos-nos-eua-impulsiona-contrabando-do-alimento/
