United States - February 19, 2025 Soaring egg prices and a nationwide shortage, driven by ongoing avian flu outbreak, have forced American businesses to seek relief through record egg imports from Türkiye, CNN reported. Türkiye plans to export a record 420 million eggs to the U.S. in 2025, a dramatic increase from the 71 million in 2024, according to the Turkish Egg Producers Central Union. Ibrahim Afyon, chairman of the union, attributed the surge to overseas avian flu outbreaks. Since 2022, avian flu in U.S. has killed over 140 million egg-laying hens. The resulting shortage has fueled the egg prices, forcing retailers to limit sales and restaurants to increase prices on egg-based dishes. The egg prices increased 15.2 percent from December last year to January, which is the largest jump since June 2015, according to the U.S. Department of Labor. Türkiye, the world's fifth-largest egg exporter and currently the only country approved to export eggs to the U.S. is poised to deliver 240 million eggs by the end of July, with the remaining arriving by the end of this year. However, some economists warn that even these large amounts may be insufficient to fully address the shortage if the avian flu outbreak persists. Shotlist: USA - Feb 19, 2025: FILE: Miami, USA - November 2024 1. Various of customers buying groceries; 2. Various of customers checking out; USA - Feb 19, 2025 3. Various of customers shopping for eggs; limit signs; 4. Various of empty shelves; out of stock notice; FILE: Istanbul, Türkiye - Sept 11, 2020 5. Various of chickens; FILE: Istanbul, Türkiye - Aug 23, 2018 6. Turkish national flag; FILE: Istanbul, Türkiye - June 2023 7. Various of city view, traffic. [Restriction - No access Chinese mainland]