Rising egg prices have led to an increase in attempts to illegally import eggs into the United States from Mexico.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the national average retail price of eggs per dozen in the U.S. reached an all-time high of $6.23 in March 2025. 

Experts attribute this in part to an outbreak of a highly contagious and deadly viral disease in domestic poultry, which has resulted in the loss of millions of birds since 2022. 

Illegal egg imports

With an estimated per capita consumption of 274 units, eggs are a staple in the U.S. diet. It is consumed, above all, at breakfast. Fried, scrambled or boiled, it is present on millions of tables every morning. It is also used in baked goods and processed foods. In addition, demand for liquid and pasteurized eggs is growing.

In 2024, U.S. imports of poultry eggs, in shell, fresh, preserved or cooked were US$91.5 million. Mexico was the ninth largest importer in the world, with US$189 million.

A recent U.S. congressional analysis indicates that, in response to these record prices, some consumers have attempted to import eggs illegally across the U.S. southern border or have «rented» their own backyard hens. 

U.S. production

The H5N1 strain of avian influenza has been hitting poultry in the United States since February 2022. Its lethality in chickens is extreme. As of May 28, 2025, APHIS had confirmed 1,704 cases. In total, 173 million birds were affected. The disease has spread to all 50 states and Puerto Rico.

In the face of this crisis, the response has been forceful. The country is applying stamping out as the main measure. This involves culling the entire infected flock. This is followed by thorough cleaning and disinfection. In addition, APHIS offers compensation to producers. In March 2025, the USDA increased the payment per laying hen. It went from $7 to nearly $17 per bird lost.