The Ministry of Agriculture says it continues to intently monitor egg provide and general market circumstances following disruptions brought on by Hurricane Melissa.
The assertion follows latest issues raised by the Jamaica Egg Farmers Affiliation (JEFA) in regards to the continued importation of eggs, which it says is impacting native farmers.
In a press launch yesterday the Ministry stated it have to be emphasised that the livelihood and financial viability of the island’s egg farmers are paramount in its consideration relating to egg importation and as such this measure is monitored constantly to make sure that native farmers and shoppers will not be positioned at a drawback inside the market.
It stated on the time Hurricane Melissa affected the sector, the egg business was nonetheless recovering from the influence of Hurricane Beryl in 2024.
Following Beryl, JEFA indicated that manufacturing was anticipated to normalize inside roughly six months.
Nonetheless, the Ministry stated provide didn’t return to pre-Hurricane Beryl ranges, leading to some accommodations being unable to entry their common allocations and supermarkets implementing buy limits.
The Ministry stated Hurricane Melissa in 2025 compounded these challenges considerably with reported losses of roughly 400,000 laying hens considerably decreasing nationwide egg output.
The Ministry’s post-Melissa market assessments indicated that home egg provide would decline by roughly 40% with an estimated restoration interval of eight to 12 months.
Based on the Ministry, manufacturing information affirm that output for the primary half of 2026 is projected to be 30-40% under the final 5 years’ common manufacturing ranges.
It defined that though manufacturing continues to enhance month by month, projections point out that month-to-month output just isn’t anticipated to surpass 2025 ranges till August 2026, when clearer year-over-year good points are anticipated.
The Ministry stated you will need to observe that within the aftermath of Hurricane Melissa, JEFA revised its really helpful costs from $550.00 to $670.00 per dozen for unbranded eggs and from $580.00 to $700.00 per dozen for branded eggs, representing will increase of roughly 21.8% and 20.7% respectively.
The Ministry stated the affiliation reportedly attributed these changes to decreased manufacturing ranges, in addition to elevated logistics and refrigeration prices.
In response to JEFA and different stakeholders to deal with the provision hole, the Ministry authorized restricted egg imports as a brief measure to ease provide constraints till native manufacturing normalises and to supply aid to shoppers in relation to costs.
To this finish a waiver was sought on import responsibility, extra stamp responsibility and GCT for imported eggs.
This request was authorized by the Ministry of Finance and was scheduled to come back to an finish on February 28, 2026.
Nonetheless, primarily based on present manufacturing information and restoration projections an extension of the waiver is being sought till the top of Might 2026 within the first occasion to make sure full market restoration and worth stability.
It famous that this focused and time-bound intervention has helped and can proceed to average costs whereas home manufacturing capability is being restored.
The Ministry stated it is going to proceed to watch provide ranges and market circumstances to safeguard stability because the sector advances towards full restoration.
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