WattAgNet: Strong future in store for Asian egg processing

27-02-2014
More eggs are produced in Asia than anywhere else, yet the volume
processed is low compared with other regions.
 
BY MARK CLEMENTS

While the percentage of eggs currently processed
in Asia may be small when compared to
Europe or North America’s numbers, the sector
can only be expected to grow.
However, Sanovo’s Morgan Ernst pointed out
at the International Egg Commission’s Cape
Town conference that the industry in the region
can hardly be described as being in its infancy -
China was home to a surplus of 100 egg-drying
plants over a century ago!
Asia is home to 3.5 billion people and produces
35 million tons of eggs annually -- 60
percent of global production. With the exception
of Japan, Asia only processes 1 percent of
its eggs, while in the U.S. and EU, the  gure
is approximately 30 percent. Worldwide, this
 gure stands at 7 percent, meaning that the opportunities
for the sector to grow are numerous.
 
Japan
Japan is Asia’s most sophisticated egg processor,
and it processes a higher percentage of
eggs than any other Asian country. It produces
2.5 million tons of eggs each year and 500,000
tons, or 20 percent, are processed into products
by the egg industry. Additionally, 750,000 tons,
or 30 percent, are converted into products inhouse
by institutional or food service businesses.
Approximately 130,000 tons are powdered
or frozen.
The intake of eggs by Japanese
consumers in product
form is about 50 percent.
About 230,000 tons -- or 9
percent of all eggs produced
in Japan -- are transformed
by food company Kewpie,
which has over 20 egg products
plants in its home market
as well as factories overseas.
 
China
In 2013, it was estimated
that there are 22 egg processors
in China and four or  ve
new plants expected to come
on stream in 2014. Additionally,
a signi cant proportion
of egg processing is carried
out in-house. There is growing
demand in China for safe
egg products in the country,
suggesting the need for
change and investment in the
sector. The growth of large
integrated layer farms is also
expected to change the sector
further.
 
India
There are four egg-drying
plants in India, and 98 percent
of production is exported.
It is the largest processed
eggs operation in Asia, transforming
50,000 tons of eggs
annually.
Asian living standards are
improving and diets changing,
with greater demand for
processed foods. Given the
volume of eggs produced, the
number of inhabitants and
the currently low percentage
of eggs processed, it is worth
considering how many eggs
will be transformed each
year, should the percentage
processed reach European or
U.S. levels. EI

 
 

Inloggen op de ledenportal