Poultry farmers have proposed establishing a price range for category C1 eggs in Russia. It is planned to be used both for the purchase and sale of products, similar to the alcohol market. In the summer, the confrontation between poultry farmers and retailers intensifies due to a two-fold decrease in egg prices. Now this is compounded by a sharp drop in the profitability of factories due to growing production.
Participants in the poultry market are discussing with regulators and industry unions the introduction in Russia of minimum and maximum prices for chicken eggs of category C1. This follows from the presentation they prepared (available to Kommersant). Three interlocutors in the agricultural market also told Kommersant that discussions are ongoing.
Business, according to the presentation, expects that price ranges will be established for both purchases and retail.
A similar procedure is now in effect on the alcohol market. The Ministry of Agriculture told Kommersant that for the sustainable development of the industry it is important to maintain a balance of interests of consumers, producers and trade. The Ministry, together with the Ministry of Industry and Trade, the Ministry of Economy and the Federal Antimonopoly Service, continues to develop a legislative initiative to consolidate the mandatory share of long-term contracts for the supply of food products, they added.
The establishment of minimum and maximum prices for food products has been discussed since last summer as a tool for stabilizing their costs (see “Kommersant” dated July 29, 2025). The measure did not receive unequivocal support, and at the beginning of 2026, manufacturers of products whose prices are characterized by high volatility began their own dialogue with the authorities about establishing minimum purchase prices. For example, potato growers previously approached the Federal Antimonopoly Service with such an initiative (see “Kommersant” dated March 3).
Egg producers expect that the price range will help, among other things, stabilize purchase prices for their products.
Now chains are putting pressure on producers, while there are no prerequisites for reducing prices on the market, it follows from the letter of the Rosptitsesoyuz to factories sent on April 23 (available to Kommersant). A representative of the Chikskaya and Chelyabinskaya poultry farms says that at auctions, retailers set starting prices for eggs below cost and at reduced volumes. This, in his opinion, is aimed at creating a “panic effect.” General Director of the Russian Poultry Union Galina Bobyleva explains that the problem is partly seasonal: retailers are counting on lower prices in the summer. Although egg production, she said, remains stable throughout the year.
President of Agrifood Strategies Albert Davleev says that after the May holidays, the purchase price of eggs is halved. Low values last until September. This is due to increased egg production of chickens and limited demand. The diet of consumers is changing, they are purchasing significantly fewer eggs, the expert says. But producers’ costs, according to Mr. Davleev, are not decreasing: feed on the market is represented mainly by grain from last season’s harvest.
The markup on eggs in retail varies greatly: in many chains it is 25–35%, but in the case of hard discounters it can be zero or even negative due to high competition, explains a representative of the Chikskaya and Chelyabinskaya poultry farms. In general, this category is considered traffic-generating for retailers.
The situation on the egg market in general is difficult. According to Albert Davleev, the profitability of most manufacturers is now zero or negative.
Typically, the average industry margin, he said, is about 5%, and 10-12% is considered good. Although during periods of sharp reduction in supply, for example, in 2023-2024 due to rising prices, the value reached 30%. Now the situation is exactly the opposite – supply is growing. In January-March 2026, Russian agricultural organizations, according to Rosstat, produced 10.1 billion eggs. Year on year the value increased by 3.1%. In 2025, industrial egg production increased by 6%, to 41 billion pieces.
Egg consumption is not growing at this rate. This keeps prices down. According to Rosstat, in March the retail price of eggs in Russia averaged 113.8 rubles. over a dozen, increasing year-on-year by only 3%. At the same time, the cost has increased due to the costs of logistics, production, labor, vaccination, bird scaring equipment, and so on, explains a representative of Chikskaya and Chelyabinskaya. The expert is convinced that, given the projected growth in production, it is important to at least temporarily establish a price bracket.
But retailers are not yet enthusiastic about poultry farmers’ proposals. Kommersant’s interlocutor in the retail market says that any price fixing is contrary to market mechanisms. Due to the influence of a large number of external factors on the cost of eggs, the measure could lead to losses for both the chains and the producers themselves, he argues. Representatives of Magnit, Lenta and X5 did not immediately respond to Kommersant.
