How Do Wholesale Egg Prices Work?

If you’ve ever wondered why egg prices seem to change from one week to the next, you’re not imagining things. Eggs are a commodity, and like any commodity, the price moves based on supply and demand. Here’s how it works in plain language.

Eggs Trade as a Commodity

Eggs aren’t priced like a box of pasta that stays the same for months. They trade more like gasoline or coffee. The wholesale price can shift daily, and every distributor in the country is watching the same benchmark.

The Expana Benchmark

The industry standard for egg pricing is the Expana market report, formerly known as Urner Barry. This is the number that egg farmers, distributors, and buyers all reference when they talk about “the market.” It publishes daily price quotes for shell eggs by size, grade, and type. When someone says eggs went up three cents, they’re talking about the Expana quote.

What Drives the Price Up or Down

Bird flu outbreaks. Avian influenza can wipe out millions of laying hens in a matter of weeks. When supply drops that fast, prices spike. This has been the single biggest price driver in recent years.

Feed costs. Corn and soybean meal make up most of a hen’s diet. When grain prices rise, egg production costs go up and that gets passed through.

Seasonal demand. Egg demand peaks around holidays like Easter and Thanksgiving, and during back-to-school season when institutional buyers ramp up. Summer tends to be softer.

Cage-free mandates. As more states require cage-free eggs, the supply of conventional eggs shifts. Producers converting barns to cage-free systems temporarily reduce overall output, which can push prices up across the board.

Why We Don’t List Prices on the Website

Because the price today might not be the price tomorrow. Listing a number online would be inaccurate within hours. Instead, we give you a same-day quote based on the current market so you always know exactly what you’re paying.

How to Get a Quote

Call us at (201) 609-9986 and we’ll give you today’s price on whatever you need. We’re transparent about how we price and happy to walk you through the market if you’re new to buying wholesale. No surprises, no hidden fees.