Egg Farming in Australia: Market Size, Businesses & Forecast 2026

The Egg Farming in Australia industry involves the commercial production of table eggs and egg products across various intensive farming systems, including free-range, barn-laid, and cage systems. The sector is heavily integrated into domestic supply chains, serving major retail supermarkets and food service sectors. The industry is navigating an environment shaped by evolving consumer preferences for cage-free alternatives and recovery from biosecurity events. According to official industry data, national production reached 6.87 billion eggs in the 2024-25 financial year (Australian Eggs 2025).

Industry snapshot

Key public data points

Historical & forecast

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What does the Egg Farming in Australia industry cover?

The industry comprises commercial agricultural operations primarily engaged in breeding and raising laying hens for the production of table eggs. The scope of activities covers the management of layer flocks, on-farm collection, and grading facilities that sort and pack eggs for transport. Production outputs are strictly categorised into free-range, barn-laid, or conventional cage systems based on housing standards.

• •Covers intensive poultry operations classified under government frameworks specifically for egg harvesting.
• •Excludes processing downstream beyond standard grading, such as specialized baking ingredient manufacturing.
• •Includes diverse operational scales, from localized small-scale pastured farms to highly automated large integrated facilities.

Who operates in the industry and how is it structured?

The Australian egg market is characterised by a mix of a few large integrated family-owned or corporate producers and a highly fragmented base of hundreds of independent regional farms. Geographically, commercial egg production is concentrated on the eastern seaboard to stay close to major population centers. New South Wales, Victoria, and Queensland collectively manage the vast majority of the national layer flock capacity.

• •New South Wales led national production by contributing 34.1% of Australia's eggs in the 2024-25 financial year (Australian Eggs 2025).
• •Victoria and Queensland followed closely, accounting for 26.0% and 24.8% of production respectively in 2024-25 (Australian Eggs 2025).
• •The national commercial layer flock size was reported at 24,890,517 layers in June 2025 (Australian Eggs 2025).

What drives demand in the industry?

Domestic consumption remains the principal driver of industry performance, as international trade of fresh whole eggs is highly limited due to perishability and strict biosecurity rules. High nutritional value and relative cost-effectiveness make eggs a preferred animal-based protein source for Australian consumers. Demand patterns are also shifting significantly toward production methods perceived to have higher animal welfare standards.

• •Per capita egg consumption in Australia stood at 259 eggs per person during the 2024-25 financial year (Australian Eggs 2025).
• •Free-range systems represented the largest category in major grocery retail, holding a 56.6% volume share of sales (Australian Eggs 2025).
• •Domestic market preference is heavily insulated from imports, with inbound trade restricted largely to processed egg powders (FSANZ 2025).

Who are the notable companies in the industry?

The competitive landscape features large-scale, multi-state agri-businesses that operate integrated breeding, feeding, and grading networks to secure major supermarket contracts. While many leading businesses operate privately or under multi-generational family structures, their commercial presence dictates retail pricing and distribution dynamics. Smaller operators compete by targeting regional premium markets, such as organic or pasture-raised niches.

• •Pace Farm Pty Ltd is one of Australia's largest commercial egg producers, supplying cage, barn, and free-range products nationally.
• •Farm Pride Foods Limited is a notable publicly listed Australian company involved in vertical egg production and processing.
• •Sunny Queen Australia (Sunny Queen Farms) operates as a major producer network supplying diversified egg products across retail channels.
• •Mclean Farms operates extensive commercial egg production and agricultural facilities based out of Queensland.

What are the recent trends and outlook?

The industry has recently navigated significant supply disruptions caused by outbreaks of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) across eastern states, which prompted flock culls. Despite the resulting temporary volume drops, strong retail demand has pushed unit prices upward, supporting gross value growth. Production volumes are projected to recover fully as farms complete restocking cycles under heightened biosecurity protocols.

• •National egg supply capacity suffered an estimated 7% contraction during 2024 due to HPAI control measures (NSW DPIRD 2025).
• •The average gross unit value of eggs grew by 12% in 2024-25 to reach an average of $3.94 per dozen (NSW DPIRD 2025).
• •Supermarket share of barn-system eggs increased to 28% in 2024-25 from 21% the prior year, highlighting a transitional pivot away from cages (NSW DPIRD 2025).

How is the industry regulated?

Egg farmers must comply with a stringent regulatory architecture covering food safety, animal welfare, and retail labeling. National definitions enforce strict criteria regarding stocking densities for free-range branding to guarantee consumer transparency. State and federal agricultural bodies monitor on-farm practices to mitigate biosecurity threats and preserve biosecurity integrity.

• •Producers must adhere to the Free-Range Labelling Information Standard, which mandates outdoor access and transparent carton labeling.
• •Food safety standards are dictated by the Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) Food Standards Code, governing through-chain traceability.
• •State agencies, such as Biosecurity Tasmania or WA's Department of Primary Industries, enforce mandatory producer registration thresholds.

Government, statistical and trade sources used for this Claight analysis.

• Australian Eggs Annual Statistics 2024-25 ·
• NSW Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development Eggs Report 2025 ·
• Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) Proposal P1060 Supporting Document 2025 ·
• Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences (ABARES) Trade Data 2024