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Egg Prices Soar Strongly At The Beginning Of 2026 With Increased Demand And Consumption During Lent, But Still Remain Below 2025 Levels.
The price of eggs recorded a significant increase at the beginning of 2026 in various regions of Brazil, reaching nearly double in important producing hubs.
The rise was mainly observed between January and February, according to data from the Center for Advanced Studies in Applied Economics (Cepea/Esalq-USP).
Despite the recent strong appreciation, the current level is still about 19% below that recorded in the same period of 2025.
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The increase in egg prices occurred at a time of changing consumer behavior, especially with the return of school activities and an increase in consumption during Lent, a period traditionally associated with greater demand for eggs as an alternative to meat.
Thus, the combination of higher demand and a more balanced supply helped drive prices in the Brazilian egg market.
Egg Prices Nearly Double In Producing Hubs
In some producing regions, the increase was significant.
In Santa Maria de Jetibá, in Espírito Santo — considered the largest egg production hub in the country — the carton with 30 dozen white eggs rose 97.1% between January and February.
The price jumped from R$ 82.99 to R$ 163.52 in that period.
Meanwhile, in Bastos, in the interior of São Paulo, another important center of the egg market, the increase reached 77.6%.
According to Cepea, this movement interrupted a sequence of five consecutive months of falling product prices.
The change in the scenario was mainly driven by the resumption of demand at the beginning of the year.
Changes In Consumption Help Explain The Rise In Egg Prices
During the first months of the year, consumer behavior directly influences the egg market.
According to Cepea researcher Cláudia Scarpelin, school vacations tend to reduce consumption.
This happens because many families travel or change their eating routines, decreasing the demand for eggs. As a result, prices tend to fall during this period.
However, with the return to classes and the resumption of daily activities, consumption increases again.
This movement contributed to the recent rise in egg prices observed in February.
Scarpelin explains that in January, prices reached the lowest level for the month in six years.
In Santa Maria de Jetibá, for example, the carton with 30 dozen eggs was traded at around R$ 89.
Consumption During Lent Boosts The Egg Market
Another important factor for the recent appreciation is the consumption during Lent, the religious period leading up to Easter.
During these weeks, many people reduce their meat consumption and seek other sources of protein, such as eggs and fish.
This behavior increases the demand for the product and stimulates the egg market across the country.
“The sector’s expectation is that during Lent, prices will stay at higher levels, with gradually increasing demand,” said Scarpelin.
According to the researcher, the scenario after the religious period will mainly depend on the balance between production and consumption.
“If production continues to increase and demand cannot absorb this supply, it is possible that prices will drop after Lent.”
Egg Prices Are Still Below 2025 Levels
Even with the recent appreciation, current prices remain lower than those recorded in the same period last year.
In February 2025, the carton with 30 dozen white eggs exceeded R$ 220 in São Paulo.
By February 2026, the month ended with the product priced at R$ 177.59.
This represents a decrease of approximately 19.3% in the annual comparison.
At the beginning of 2025, the egg market faced a different scenario.
High temperatures reduced egg production, limiting supply and raising prices more intensely.
Higher Egg Production Pressured Prices At The Beginning Of The Year
Another factor that explains the recent behavior of the egg price was the increase in production throughout 2025.
With greater supply in the market, prices were pressured for much of the year.
As a consequence, 2026 began with lower prices in the main producing regions.
In Santa Maria de Jetibá, for example, the initial price for 2026 was R$ 82.99 per carton. In Bastos, the price was R$ 89.57.
These figures represent drops of 44.8% and 37.5%, respectively, compared to the beginning of 2025.
Production Costs Also Influence The Market
The costs of feeding hens also directly impact the egg market.
Corn, the main ingredient in the feed for laying hens, greatly influences the producer’s profitability.
During the period of low prices, many poultry farmers lost purchasing power.
In other words, selling a carton of eggs allowed them to buy fewer inputs for production.
With the recovery of the egg price in February, this relationship began to improve.
Purchasing Power Of Producers Returns To Increase
According to data from Cepea, the purchasing power of poultry farmers in São Paulo has begun to grow again against the main inputs of the activity, such as corn and soybean meal.
Considering the ESALQ/BM&FBovespa Indicator for corn, selling a carton of white eggs allowed the purchase of 131.22 kilograms of the grain. In the case of red eggs, the volume reached 147.77 kilograms.
These values represent increases of 36.7% and 37.1%, respectively, compared to the previous month.
A similar situation was observed in the case of soybean meal.
With the sale of a carton of white eggs, producers managed to acquire 80.27 kilograms of the input, while red eggs allowed them to buy 90.40 kilograms.
See more at: Egg Prices Nearly Double At The Beginning Of 2026, But Remain Below 2025 Levels | CNN Brasil
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