According to multiple reports, Finnish companies are exporting more eggs because they can get higher prices abroad than in Finland. Bird flu has caused an egg shortage and raised prices in Europe to record highs in recent years. According to Ilta-Sanomat, Juho Niemelä, CEO of egg packager Kieku Oy, described that the company could have earned tens of millions of euros more by increasing exports.
In Finland, retailers, egg packagers, and producers are currently in disagreement over prices. According to Ilta-Sanomat, Mari Lukkariniemi, an expert at the Central Union of Agricultural Producers and Forest Owners (MTK), described that retailers have not agreed to pay market price. MTK has claimed that the occasional egg shortage seen on store shelves in recent weeks is due to the prices paid by Finnish retailers for eggs. However, according to Ilta-Sanomat, an anonymous egg producer described that the situation is more complex and that price is not the only cause.
The company could have earned tens of millions of euros more by increasing exports.
Finland produces significantly more eggs than domestic demand: in 2025, production was 81.5 million kg while consumption was 68 million kg. According to Ilta-Sanomat, the anonymous producer described that there is a severe shortage of eggs in Europe, driving prices higher, and producers want to export there for better prices. The same producer noted that global market prices can be very low in summer, and market economy is harsh. According to Ilta-Sanomat, the anonymous producer described that there are market disruptions but production capacity in Finland is quite good.
Bird flu has hit European poultry production since the beginning of the year; EU authorities reported hundreds of outbreaks on poultry farms across Europe during the winter. In Poland, early-year outbreaks led to the culling of millions of poultry birds. According to Ilta-Sanomat, the anonymous producer warned that if bird flu were to spread to Finland, the situation could be even worse.
Retailers have not agreed to pay market price.
According to Ilta-Sanomat, the anonymous producer described that business operations in Finland are becoming more expensive as retailers have changed liability policies and are phasing out eggs from enriched cages. The producer also described that the producer-level price is too low and production changes are costly, hoping some of the price would go to the producer. The producer commented anonymously for fear of affecting business relationships.
S-Group and Kesko have shifted pricing responsibility to egg packagers; S-Group recently told Ilta-Sanomat they have discussed delivery volumes and prices with egg packagers at an 'unusually frequent pace'. Retailers have previously said that 'flock replacement' on the production side partly affects availability issues.
It is by no means the only cause.
In Europe there is a severe shortage of eggs. Because of that, prices have risen higher than normal. Naturally, we want to export there when we get a better price.
On the other hand, during summer seasons the world market price can be very low. Market economy is harsh.
At the producer level, the price is now too low. These production method changes are tough and expensive. One would hope that some of the price would also go to the producer.
Let's say it like this: there are market disruptions involved, but here in Finland production capacity is quite good.
If bird flu were to spread to Finland, the situation could be even worse.