Egg prices have remained volatile over the past few years and these are caused by inflation, higher feed costs as well as challenges in the supply chain.
The recent Middle East crisis might have increased operational costs further, nevertheless eggs remain an essential part of food production due to it being a major component of flavor, on top of it being versatile in terms of being a texture improver, emulsifier, thickener, and many other properties needed in the production of food particularly in the bakery and confectionery segment.
Alternative egg replacers might be needed to manage costs and supply shortages. In addition, the recent Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) which affected US poultry, showed how fragile our supply could be in the face of pandemic disruptions. Although the HPAI outbreak has receded and price of eggs has dropped substantially, the industry cannot be completely certain as its next challenge might be just around the corner.
A survey conducted by Rakuten Insight in 2025 found that China has the highest incidence of consumption for egg substitutes with 41% of Chinese consumers mentioned that they have tried plant-based egg substitutes followed by India, Vietnam and the Philippines. In contrast, only 3% of respondents in Japan have tried consuming plant-based egg substitutes. (see Chart 1.0)
Eggs have become an essential component of food ingredients due to its technical benefits, and the success of an egg replacer also depends on how well it can imitate these functional benefits. The following Chart 2.0 shows new product launches in the US containing eggs from 2020 to 2024 and how important egg is in the production of these commercial goods.
Nevertheless, due to rising cost, some manufacturers have resorted to using vegan egg replacers, or consider partial or total removal of eggs from the ingredients altogether.
In Asia, egg demand will continue to surge as consumers seek affordable protein-rich foods. Presently, the egg market in Asia is valued at US$27 billion, and with rising disposable incomes, consumers are shfting in favor of high quality cage-free eggs. In addition, Asia’s rising flexitarian population will also lead to a surge in demand for egg replacers currently estimated at more than US$1 billion with convenience foods, plant-based food (vegan food), as well as industrial bakeries being the primary growth engines.
