Australia Egg Market Size, Share Analysis and Forecast Report (2024-2032)

Australia Egg Market Trends

The Australia egg market is undergoing notable changes, particularly with the rising demand for free-range and organic eggs, spurred by concerns about animal welfare and health. Producers are adopting sustainable farming methods to cater to eco-conscious consumers. According to Australian Eggs per capita egg consumption increased to 263 eggs in the 2022-23 financial year, up from 262 the previous year. With an average egg weighing 58 grams, this amounts to about 15 kilograms of eggs per person each year as, health-focused innovations, such as high-omega-3 eggs, are generating greater consumer interest, contributing to the Australia egg industry growth.

The Australia egg market dynamics and trends are increasingly influenced by convenience products such as liquid eggs, which are gaining popularity. Additionally, consumers are showing a preference for locally sourced eggs, supported by a rise in online sales. There is a heightened focus on food safety and quality assurance, which is shaping consumer trust and purchasing behaviour, indicating a move towards ethical and sustainable options. In June 2022, Australia introduced EggTrace, a tool that allows consumers to track eggs from the point of purchase back to the farm and lay date. This browser-based system improves food safety by providing transparency in the egg supply chain and helps farmers quickly identify and resolve quality or health issues before they worsen.

Australia Egg Market Growth

The Australian egg market has experienced notable growth due to increasing demand for convenient products, a preference for locally sourced eggs facilitated by online sales, and a heightened focus on food safety. These factors have built consumer trust and highlighted ethical and sustainable purchasing practices. Currently, there are three primary egg farming systems in Australia: free-range, cage, and barn-laid. Free-range egg production has seen substantial growth over the past 15 years, now representing 56.5% of grocery retail sales.

Health trends are reshaping consumer preferences, with increasing interest in organic and free-range eggs that emphasize sustainability and animal welfare. The rise of high-protein diets enhanced nutritional awareness, and demand for functional eggs enriched with omega-3s is also influencing the market. The Australia egg market dynamics and trends are being enhanced by companies like Wild Greens, which provides organic, free-range eggs sourced from Ellerslie Farm. At this farm, hens roam organic pastures and are fed a non-GMO diet.

Australia Egg Market Insights

• The Department of Health and Age Care reports that approximately 13 million adults and 3 million children engage in sports annually, supporting the egg market since eggs are valued for their high protein content, making them a favoured choice for high-protein and low-carb diets.
• The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) states that egg farmers in Australia produced 6.68 billion eggs, equivalent to 557.4 million dozen, during the 2022-23 financial year.
• Industry reports show that Australia's egg farming sector has over 800 businesses, creating more than 3,800 jobs, from large integrated farms managing all processes to small farms serving local markets.

Industry News

August 2024

Australian Eggs has introduced a virtual reality tool designed to standardise and enhance on-farm biosecurity practices. This training tool is available free to all egg producers, who will receive a completion certificate. Such initiatives tackle urgent industry issues while emphasising the commitment to innovation, safety, and operational excellence.

March 2024

Australian Eggs has unveiled the newest phase of its "Bring the Bright" campaign through Connecting Plots. Launched last September, this campaign highlights the joy and vibrancy eggs add to Australian meals. Developed with Infinity Squared, UM, and Liquid Ideas, it will be promoted across various digital platforms in the coming months.

Australia Egg Market Drivers

Shift Towards Free-Range Eggs

The Australia egg market is increasingly shifting towards free-range production as consumer demand for ethically sourced products grows. Shoppers are more aware of animal welfare and sustainability, leading egg producers to modify their practices. This trend has resulted in a rise in free-range egg sales, now a significant market segment. Additionally, certification and labelling standards have become stricter, enhancing transparency for consumers. As awareness increases, free-range eggs are expected to dominate sales, influencing pricing and production strategies, and further boosting the Australia egg market revenue. Federal legislation was enacted in Australia to define free-range farming, requiring that hens have outdoor access for at least eight hours daily. The maximum outdoor stocking density is set at 10,000 hens per hectare or one hen per square meter, with farms required to indicate their outdoor stocking density on egg cartons.

Focus on Health and Nutrition

The Australia egg market is increasingly influenced by consumer awareness of health and nutrition. Eggs are gaining recognition for their nutritional benefits, especially their high protein content and essential vitamins. As a result, marketing strategies emphasize these health aspects, targeting fitness enthusiasts and health-conscious buyers. Fortified eggs, enriched with omega-3 fatty acids or vitamin D, are also becoming popular among those seeking additional health benefits. This focus on nutrition is shaping purchasing decisions, leading to greater demand for eggs viewed as healthier options, potentially spurring innovation in product development and marketing and supporting the egg demand growth. The Department of Health and Aged Care reports that about 90% of Australian adults engage in sports annually. Egg is celebrated for its rich nutritional profile, providing high-quality protein, essential vitamins, and minerals. Eggs contain all nine essential amino acids, making them an excellent choice for muscle development and overall health.

Opportunities in the Australia Egg Market

Technological Innovations in Farming

The Australia egg market is adopting technological innovations to improve efficiency and biosecurity on farms. Advances such as automated feeding systems, climate control technologies, and data analytics for flock management are becoming increasingly common. These technologies not only enhance production but also promote animal welfare and sustainability. Moreover, the use of virtual reality tools for biosecurity training reflects a commitment to modernizing industry practices. As these innovations are implemented, egg producers can anticipate higher productivity and lower operational costs, ultimately benefiting consumers with improved egg quality and availability, which supports the growth of the Australian egg industry. In June 2022, Australia’s national science agency, CSIRO, developed sex-sorting technology that can identify eggs containing male embryos at the point of lay, before, incubation and hatching. To advance this initiative, Hendrix Genetics has partnered with CSIRO to conduct research assessing the viability of this solution, with a key goal of determining how to effectively integrate this technology into current industry practices.

Market Restraints

The Australia egg market faces several challenges, including strict regulations that raise operational costs, shifting consumer preferences towards plant-based diets, price volatility due to fluctuating input costs, and competition from alternative protein sources. These factors collectively impact the demand for traditional egg products.

The Australia egg demand encounters challenges from supply chain disruptions due to global events, biosecurity threats from diseases such as avian influenza, market saturation that intensifies competition, evolving health trends influencing consumer perceptions, and environmental issues driving the demand for more sustainable choices, all of which affect traditional egg sales.

Australia Egg Industry Segmentation

“Australia Egg Market Report and Forecast 2024-2032” offers a detailed analysis of the market based on the following segments:

Market Breakup by Type

• Conventional
• Cage-Free
• Others

Market Breakup by Distribution Channel

• Foodservice
• Retail
• Supermarket/Hypermarket
• Convenience Store
• Online
• Others

Market Breakup by Region

• New South Wales
• Victoria
• Queensland
• Australian Capital Territory
• Western Australia
• Others

Australia Egg Market Share

By Type Analysis

The Australia egg market is booming because conventional eggs are a cost-effective choice, making them accessible to a broad audience. They are readily available in supermarkets, ensuring a stable supply in the market. Their longer shelf life helps minimise food waste. Conventional farming practices yield a higher number of eggs per hen, which maintains steady demand in the Australian egg market. As of 2023, the minimum space requirement for hens in cage systems is 550 cm² per bird, equating to approximately 18 hens per square meter. This space will increase to 750 cm² per bird for multiple hens in a cage or 1,000 cm² for a single bird. New cages will also require nesting areas, access to perches or platforms, and space for scratching.

The Australia egg market is expanding as cage-free eggs promote animal welfare by allowing hens to roam freely, which is viewed as a more humane approach. With rising consumer awareness of ethical sourcing, the demand for cage-free eggs is on the rise. Many people perceive cage-free eggs as fresher and of higher quality, which can lead to better nutritional benefits. This trend allows producers to differentiate themselves in a competitive market, further boosting the Australia egg industry revenue. Numerous brands are recognising the importance of improving hen welfare by phasing out cage eggs. Major retailers such as ALDI, Coles, and Woolworths are making concerted efforts to remove cage eggs from their shelves by 2025. They are dedicated to ensuring that all eggs sold in cartons originate from cage-free hens by that time.

Australia Egg Market Regional Insight

The Australia egg market share is increasing, with New South Wales contributing 35% of the nation's eggs, followed by Queensland at 30% and Victoria at 20%, according to Australian Eggs. There are about 21 million laying hens in the country. Free-range eggs make up 52% of grocery retail sales, yet there remains a strong demand for cage and barn-laid eggs.

In the 2022-23 financial year, Australian egg farmers produced a total of 6.68 billion eggs, or 557.4 million dozen. During this period, New South Wales produced 34.20% of the country's eggs, while Queensland contributed 31.25% and Victoria 19.47%, all playing a crucial role in Australia egg market development.

Competitive Landscape

Australia egg market key players are dedicated to promoting sustainable and ethical farming practices. They aim to support their members' interests while maintaining the highest egg quality standards. Their focus is on driving industry growth through innovation and collaboration while advocating for policies that benefit both farmers and consumers. They prioritise animal welfare and environmental responsibility in their efforts.

Key Industry Players

Sunny Queen Farms: Based in Wonga Park, Victoria, is a premier Australian egg producer established in 1960. The company specialises in high-quality free-range, barn-laid, and organic eggs, prioritising sustainability, and animal welfare to meet consumer demands for ethical farming practices.

Egg Farmers Australia: Founded in 2008 and headquartered in Sydney, it is a national peak body for egg producers. It advocates for member interests, promotes best practices in egg production and biosecurity, and emphasizes sustainability, ensuring high-quality products while supporting the egg farming community.

Pace Farm: Established in 1950 and located in Sydney, is one of Australia’s largest egg producers. Specialising in free-range, barn-laid, and cage eggs, the company is dedicated to animal welfare and innovation, focusing on safety and sustainability in its farming practices.

Fremantle Egg Company: Founded in 1995 in Fremantle, Western Australia, is a family-owned producer of fresh, high-quality eggs. Renowned for its free-range and organic offerings, the company emphasises ethical farming and community engagement, ensuring customer satisfaction and environmental stewardship.

Other key players in the Australia egg market report include Days Eggs, and TAMARIX EGGS among others.

Recent Developments

August 2024

Australian Eggs launched a VR biosecurity training tool that visually identified potential biosecurity risks on farms and assessed users' understanding through a multiple-choice questionnaire. This tool aimed to enhance egg supply security by standardizing and modernizing on-farm biosecurity processes for egg farmers.

November 2020

Australian Eggs introduced a Solar Calculator to help small-to-medium egg farms determine optimal system size, savings, and CO2 reduction. This simple tool enabled egg farmers to understand cost reduction and sustainability improvements by installing solar systems near their laying sheds, ensuring a cooler environment for their hens.