The Real Reasons Behind the Egg Shortage – Explanation from the Founder of “Koda”
The temporary shortage of eggs in Georgia was caused by several factors occurring simultaneously, rather than a single issue. According to Zurab Chuchulashvili, founder of the poultry company Koda, delays in the delivery of breeding chicks from the Netherlands and the near-complete suspension of egg imports from Turkey disrupted supply in the market.
Speaking to Business Partner, Chuchulashvili said the situation has already stabilized and that egg supplies will return to store shelves in the coming days.
He explained that one of the main problems was a delay in importing one-day-old breeding chicks from the Netherlands. Due to difficulties on the supplier’s side, deliveries were postponed by approximately one and a half months. As a result, the production cycle was disrupted and the peak egg-laying period was shifted by the same amount of time. While producers had planned to reach peak production during the New Year period, it has now moved to around January 10.
Another significant factor was the suspension of egg imports from Turkey. Previously, large quantities of eggs were imported from Turkey and sold throughout Georgia, particularly in Adjara. However, Turkey has effectively stopped exporting eggs to Georgia. Chuchulashvili noted that this was caused by avian influenza issues in the United States, which prompted the U.S. to begin sourcing eggs from multiple countries, including Turkey. Following a bilateral agreement, surplus Turkish eggs are now exported exclusively to the U.S. market. As a result, exports of standard-size eggs (categories 0 and 1) to other countries have been restricted, leaving only very small or very large eggs available. This has made the Georgian market unappealing for Turkish exporters.
He emphasized that the situation was further exacerbated by panic buying. According to Chuchulashvili, hens that were expected to begin laying earlier are now starting production, and the supply issue will be resolved in the coming days. However, after shelves were empty for several days, consumers began purchasing significantly more eggs than usual. People who normally bought 10 eggs started buying 30 or 40, which led to renewed shortages on shelves.
Chuchulashvili dismissed rumors about an avian influenza outbreak in Georgia as completely false, stressing that no such situation exists. He added that December is traditionally the strongest sales month, making any supply disruption more noticeable. While supply was indeed lower about ten days ago, production has since been restored. Demand, however, remains unusually high due to consumer panic rather than an actual shortage.
He said Koda continues to operate normally, though expanding distribution requires significant additional costs. He expressed confidence that the panic will subside soon and that there will be enough eggs for everyone across the country.
Chuchulashvili also noted that compared to the same period last year, Koda has increased egg production by approximately 18%. He added that the Adjara region was particularly affected by the halt in imports, but local producers have now resumed supplying the area. In 2023, Georgia imported around 40 million eggs from Turkey, followed by 18 million in 2024 and just 1 million this year. From January 1, no egg imports are expected, and local producers will fully meet domestic demand. He stated that this position reflects the view of the entire industry association.
