Egg Processing Market to Flourish at High Pace Owing to Rising Demand For Processed Eggs

The egg processing market describes the commercial activities involving production, processing and distribution of eggs for consumption or industrial uses. Eggs are processed into various forms like liquid, powdered, frozen or further processed into egg products and egg components. The processed forms have advantages like longer shelf life, uniform quality and ease of transportation compared to shell eggs. The growing demand for processed and convenience food has increased the application of processed eggs in items like baked goods, sauces, dressings, mayonnaise and desserts.

The global egg processing market is estimated to be valued at US$ 51.9 billion in 2024 and is expected to exhibit a CAGR of 5.8% over the forecast period 2023 to 2030. Key players operating in the egg processing market are Avril, Cal-Maine Foods, Inc., Eurovo S.R.L., Lactosan-Sanovo Holding A/S, Moba B.V., and ACTINI GROUP.

Key Takeaways
- Key players operating in the egg processing are Avril, Cal-Maine Foods, Inc., Eurovo S.R.L., Lactosan-Sanovo Holding A/S, Moba B.V., and ACTINI GROUP.

- The growing demand for processed and convenient food items is driving the growth of processed eggs. Factors like busy lifestyles and urbanization have increased the demand for ready-to-eat and ready-to-cook food products that use processed eggs.

- Technological advancements in processing like egg breaking, mixing, drying and packing lines have automated operations and improved efficiency of production. This has enabled large scale production of high-quality processed egg products.

Market Trends
- Growing popularity of liquid egg products - Liquid eggs have longer shelf life than shell eggs and are preferred for industrial applications like baked goods and foodservice. Their demand is expected to increase over the forecast period.

- Rising health-consciousness - The protein-rich nature of eggs make them a desirable ingredient. Processing enables addition of nutrients to fortified egg products catering to health and wellness-oriented consumers.

Market Opportunities
- Scope for export/imports - Key players are exploring opportunities in international markets to boost profits. Trade agreements can facilitate greater globalization of egg processing industry.

- Innovation of new products - Continuous research is developing new formats like spray-dried powders, pre-blends, liquid mixes using processed eggs. This enhances applications and drives new product development.

Impact of COVID-19 on Egg Processing Market Growth
The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly impacted theegg processing market. During the initial lockdown phases across regions, demand from the foodservice industry declined substantially due to closures of restaurants, cafes, and other foodservice outlets. This led to a decline in sales for processed egg products meant for foodservice applications. However, demand from retail and home consumption rose as people stocked up essential food items. Processors focused on fulfilling rising demand from retail channels. As various regions entered multiple phases of lockdowns, supply chain disruptions impacted raw material procurement. Adhering to social distancing norms within processing facilities also posed operational challenges. With gradual lifting of lockdowns, foodservice demand is recovering. However, processors will have to closely monitor demand-supply trends amid ongoing virus risks of subsequent lockdown waves. Investing in advanced automation, developing flexible production strategies, and maintaining raw material stockpiles will help processors cope better in the future.

Regions Where Egg Processing Market Value is Concentrated
North America and Western Europe account for a major share of the global egg processing market value. In North America, the US is the largest market owing to well-established commercial egg production industry and significant demand for processed egg products from food manufacturers and foodservice outlets. Processors catering to retail segments gained during the pandemic. In Western Europe, major markets include Germany, France, UK, and Italy benefiting from higher per capita egg consumption and demand for value-added processed products. Processors sell variety of pre-packaged products through organized retail stores. Per capita egg consumption is also gradually rising in some Eastern European countries offering future growth opportunities for processors.

Fastest Growing Region for Egg Processing Market
Asia Pacific region offers immense growth prospects for the egg processing market. China has the world's largest egg production and remains a key export market for major players globally. However, rapid urbanization and rising incomes are boosting demand for processed and packaged egg products in other Asian countries as well. Southeast Asian countries like Indonesia, Philippines and Vietnam are witnessing fastest market growth owing to growing population, westernization of diets, and expansion of quick service restaurants offering egg-based dishes and breakfast meals. Processors are making investments to ramp up capacities and expand distribution networks to tap into rising retail and foodservice demand from these developing Asian markets. superior hygiene, quality, and convenience of processed egg products will drive their increasing adoption.