Research

Abstract. The papers aimed to study the dynamics of the Romanian egg market in the period 1990-2009 in order to identify its specific trends. In the year 2009, egg production counted for 6,211 million pieces of which 95.73 % hen eggs, by 25 % less than in 1990 because of the decline in poultry stock and average egg production. As a result, in 2009, only 289 eggs per capita were achieved compared to 347 pieces in 1990. In consequence, the demand/offer ratio has been an unbalanced one and only 50 % of domestic production was able to cover market needs. The EU requirements concerning poultry welfare (cage modernization etc), new growing methods friendly with the environment and food safety have led to a decline of the number of laying hens, to the closing of some poultry farms and to an increase of production cost because of the new investments. In addition, cereal increased purchasing price has deeply influenced farm input cost and egg price. In the future, egg producers have to pay more attention to production increase and diversification, egg quality, packaging, distribution and also to export possibilities in order to encourage the increase of profitability along the egg chain from producer to consumer