Financial Tribune

According to Reza Torkashvand, the head of Producers of Egg-Laying Hens Union, producers have been allowed to export eggs free of charge as of Aug. 22.

The move is aimed at helping producers escape big losses inflicted by the hefty livestock feed prices and the saturated domestic market.

The constant switch in the market mood, caused by several factors, including the coronavirus pandemic, has affected egg exports in the past few months.

Iran exported over 34,000 tons of egg during the first three months of the current year (March 20-June 20), which emptied the market shelves and led to a price hike.

Consequently, the export of the product was banned on July 4 temporarily, as per the Industries Ministry’s move to curb price hikes in the domestic market.

The ban was removed on July 21, but exporters were required to pay 40,000 rials ($0.17) in duty per kilogram of shipment.

Iran produces 90,000 tons of eggs per month.

The country produced 1.1 million tons of eggs in the last fiscal year (ended March 19, 2020), of which 41,000 tons were exported.

Per capita egg consumption in the country prior to the coronavirus stood at 12 kilograms per year.

According to Torkashvand, the Agriculture Ministry's plan for the current fiscal year (March 2020-21) is to increase egg production by 4% compared to last year.