Increase in Irish egg production over recent years - minister
There was an increase in the overall total tonnage of eggs produced in Ireland last year, according to Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Martin Heydon.
The table egg (hen eggs for human consumption) sector in Ireland is "relatively small" in comparison to our EU counterparts, Minister Heydon said in response to questions from Sinn Féin TD Conor D. McGuinness.
"Nevertheless, Irish table egg production has been increasing over the last number of years," the minister said.
The overall total tonnage of eggs produced in 2025 was circa 64,000t, compared to circa 59,000t in 2024.
Economic performance
Minister Heydon explained that poultry enterprises are not captured in the Teagasc National Farm Survey, therefore farm gate value on egg producers is not available.
"Teagasc is currently exploring setting up a system, in collaboration with egg producers and wider stakeholders, to estimate economic performance of egg producers," the minister said.
He said that Teagasc estimates that poultry feed represents approximately 70% of the input costs of egg producers.
In general, poultry feed prices in 2025 were 20% higher than in 2020 but prices experienced significant volatility during that period, the minister said.
Egg prices
The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine does not capture data on egg prices on supermarket shelves.
However, the below table shows the average yearly price for six large eggs and six medium eggs for the last five calendar years.
This is the 12-month average of the monthly national average price reported by the Central Statistics Office (CSO) as part of the monthly consumer price index release.
| 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | |
| € | € | € | € | € | |
| Large eggs per half dozen | 1.78 | 1.92 | 2.21 | 2.23 | 2.28 |
| Medium eggs per half dozen | 1.38 | 1.54 | 1.77 | 1.78 | 1.83 |
Minister Heydon continued: "Since 2021, the annual average price for six large eggs has increased by 28%.
"The annual average price for six medium eggs has increased by 32% in the same period.
"The CSO egg price index shows that, on average, hen egg producers received 38% more for their eggs in 2024 compared to 2020."
The minister said his department monitors the production of eggs at egg producer level and does not monitor supply at retail level.
"Nevertheless, I am not aware of any shortages of eggs in supermarkets nationally," he added.
