Domestic price of eggs in New Zealand - Data and Analysis (1990-2034)

IBISWorld forecasts the domestic price of eggs to fall 3.0% in 2026-27, to reach 102.2 index points. Egg prices are expected to ease following the 5.4% jump in 2025-26. The prior year's increase was driven by Woolworths' completion of its transition away from caged eggs in October 2025, and an increase in feed-grain costs, which kept the production cost base elevated. The avian influenza outbreak at Mainland Poultry's Hillgrove farm in late 2024 led to the culling of around 200,000 hens, limiting supply into 2025. As the Hillgrove farm gradually repopulated in staged phases through 2025 and completed the process in 2026, the wider flock recovered. Egg supply is expected to rise, weighing on prices into 2026-27. Notably, data from Statistics New Zealand shows that egg prices fell year-on-year by 8.8% in April and 6.6% in May 2026.Egg producers in New Zealand have transitioned away from conventional cage eggs since the introduction of the Code of Welfare for Layer Hens in 2012. The code set a deadline for the phasing out of the use of battery cages by the end of 2022, with the cages banned since January 2023. The move has partly limited egg production over the past five years, with declines in egg production over the two years through June 2023. Supply chain disruptions and inflationary pressures over the three years through 2023-24 further inflated egg prices, as rising costs were passed onto consumers. Input costs, mainly of feed, also soared due to inflationary pressures. Ukraine, being a major exporter of feed, caused global feed prices to surge following the Russia-Ukraine conflict.Demand for barn and free-range eggs is increasing, as consumer concern for animal welfare rises. The cost of production of these categories of eggs is significantly higher than that of cage eggs, driving prices. Woolworths New Zealand completed its transition to cage-free eggs in October 2025, pushing supply towards higher-cost barn and free-range systems and further contributing to price hikes over recent years. However, stabilising supply conditions are expected to limit further price rises in the current year.Domestic demand for eggs has increased over the past five years. Rising health consciousness has led consumers to add eggs to their diets, as organisations like the Heart Foundation suggest that they can be part of a healthy eating regimen. Growing concerns over animal welfare have boosted demand for the more labour-intensive, and therefore more expensive free-range eggs. These factors, including the higher cost of fuel for transporting eggs from barn to shelves, have added to cost pressures across the industry. Tensions in the Middle East have also kept input costs elevated, partly cushioning the price declines that would otherwise follow the supply hike from the Hillgrove farm's flock recovery in 2026-27. Overall, IBISWorld forecasts the domestic price of eggs to rise at a compound annual rate of 11.8% over the five years through 2026-27.