The UK egg sector continued to strengthen through the third quarter of 2025, with higher production volumes and steady farm-gate prices, according to DEFRA’s latest accredited statistical release.
Egg production up 5.1% compared with Q3 2024
A total of 268 million dozen eggs were produced for human consumption in Q3 2025, an increase of 5.1% year-on-year and 1.9% higher than Q2 2025 .
Quarterly production breakdown:
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Shell eggs: 241.3 million dozen
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Processed eggs: 27.0 million dozen
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Total: 268.3 million dozen
This continues the upward trend seen since early 2024.
Farm-gate prices remain stable
The average UK farm-gate egg price in Q3 2025 was 148 pence per dozen, up 1.8% on Q3 2024 but 0.6% lower than Q2 2025 .
Average Q3 2025 prices by production system:
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Enriched cage: 103.6 p/dozen
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Barn: confidential
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Free range: 159.1 p/dozen
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Organic: confidential
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All eggs: 147.6 p/dozen
Free range remains dominant in UK production
UK packing station intake for Q3 2025 totalled 266.2 million dozen, up 6.3% year-on-year. Free range eggs represented the largest share:
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Free range: 188.3 million dozen (≈71%)
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Enriched colony systems: 45.9 million dozen (≈17%)
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Barn: 21.9 million dozen
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Organic: 10.1 million dozen
Egg processing: strong quarterly rise
UK egg processors purchased 29.8 million dozen eggs in Q3 2025, including:
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UK eggs: 27.0 million dozen
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Imported eggs: 2.8 million dozen
Total availability for processing reached 21.9 thousand tonnes, an increase of 8.1% compared to Q3 2024 .
Egg product output in Q3 2025:
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Liquid egg: 12.8 thousand tonnes
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Hard-boiled & other products: 4.0 thousand tonnes
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Total: 17.1 thousand tonnes (-0.2% vs Q3 2024)
UK egg trade: strong import growth, sharp August increases
DEFRA reports significant changes in UK egg trade up to August 2025:
Shell egg imports
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15 million dozen in August 2025
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Up 360% vs August 2024
Shell egg exports
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6.5 million dozen in August 2025
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Up 280% vs August 2024
Egg product imports
For January–August 2025, egg product imports remained high, with monthly totals ranging from 8.9 to 10.4 million dozen, though most months were below year-earlier levels.
Egg product exports
Egg product exports reached 1.5 million dozen in August 2025, 50% higher than August 2024.
Processing trends and methodology changes
DEFRA notes that changes introduced in 2024 Q1—particularly improved handling of non-response and revised laying hen estimates—mean figures may differ from releases prior to 2023 Q1. All data in the 2025 report incorporate the updated methodology where possible .
Conclusion
The UK egg industry continued its recovery through Q3 2025, supported by higher production volumes, steady prices, and strong growth in shell egg imports and exports during August. Free range remains the dominant production system, while processors saw increased egg availability and a moderate rise in output.
All data in this article derive solely from DEFRA’s Quarterly UK statistics about eggs – statistics notice (data to Q3 2025).
