Tamil Nadu egg exports double on back of weak rupee, strong demand

CHENNAI: Egg exporters from Tamil Nadu have doubled their shipments, mainly due to rupee volatility and increase in demand from overseas markets.

Namakkal, considered as one of the export hub for white shell eggs in India, produces high quality white and brown eggs.

From this town, eggs are exported to countries like Afghanistan, the Middle East, officials of Namakkal Egg Merchant Traders Association said.

"Rupee depreciation against the US dollar is also one of the reasons. Last month, I shipped about 30 containers. Each container has a capacity of 7.20 lakh eggs. This month we will be shipping about 80 containers..", one of the representatives of the Association and Namakkal-based NS Exports, Managing Director, S Kesavan told PTI.

He said most of the exports were made to Afghanistan, Oman, Bahrain.

Season for egg demand in countries like Afghanistan begins this month and it will be on till December this year. "So, along with demand and rupee volatility we are seeing an increase in exports", he added.

Given the beginning of season in increasing egg demand, he said the company was also looking to export into newer markets. "I will say we are also look at entering European and West African markets during this season", Kesavan said.

The increase in exports of egg was despite huge competition from Pakistan, China, Iran and Bangladesh among other countries, he added.