Photo: Moment RF
The rate at which people are bringing eggs from Mexico into the United States has been on the rise recently as prices have taken a tumble.
It's just one of the ways consumers are trying to combat the higher-than-normal prices of eggs. The good news is that the price of eggs has fallen over the past few weeks.
According to wholesale data from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), prices last week for a dozen grade-A large eggs averaged $5.16. Two weeks ago, the U.S. was averaging $8.51 for a dozen.
Texas A&M Professor and Extension Economist Dr. David Anderson said the recent egg price decline shows just how volatile the egg market is.
"That's a pretty substantial decline in the wholesale measure of prices," he said.
Egg prices are cheaper in Mexico though. Recent egg prices across the border were generally under $2 a dozen. This has led to an increase of prohibited eggs being found by U.S. Customs and Border Protection. The USDA bans such imports because eggs not inspected through official channels can spread disease.
So-called egg interceptions are up 36% nationwide so far this fiscal year. According to CBP’s Laredo field office in Texas, in some parts of the state they have risen by 54%.
"Our high prices really encourage things like that to happen," Anderson said. "When you have high prices and you're next to a border, you're going to go across and if you find them cheaper you're going to get them."
However, Anderson said the imported egg numbers are still pretty small in the grand scheme of things.
"Whether through legitimate trade or sneaking some stuff across, the numbers just aren't that big," said Anderson
When the price of things is high, consumers will typically buy less, no matter what it is. Anderson said the recent fall in the price is a response of that. He does not believe the price change is indicative of a change in production yet.
"That takes a bunch of time to get more hens produced that are going to start laying more eggs," Anderson explained.
On Friday, there will be a report released from the USDA called "Chickens and Eggs," which will give us a look at the number of egg-laying hens that we had on March 1. Anderson is expecting to see a decline because we lost a lot of chickens last month.