Tunisia’s Poultry Sector Faces a Double Blow: Structural Egg Crisis and Heatwave Devastation

Tunisia’s poultry industry is grappling with a dual crisis. Structural losses in the egg sector are compounded by the devastating aftermath of a deadly heatwave that has severely impacted livestock.

Heatwave and Power Cuts Devastate Broiler Production

This summer, extreme heat and widespread power outages wreaked havoc on broiler farmers. According to the National Chamber of Poultry and White Meat Merchants, the combined effect of these two factors destroyed nearly 2,100 tons of production, representing approximately 13% of the national volume.

The primary cause was the failure of ventilation and cooling systems due to load-shedding. In some farms, equipment was rendered completely inoperable, leading to significant mortality rates among the birds.

Eggs: Victims of a Disbalanced Value Chain

The crisis in the consumption egg sector is more structural in nature. The financial imbalance has become unsustainable: the cost of producing one egg at the farm level is currently 220 millimes, while a pack of four eggs sells for only 840 millimes at the same stage. This price point forces farmers to sell at a loss.

However, at the retail end of the chain, the price of four eggs rises to between 1,200 and 1,400 millimes. Given this disparity, it is vital for the sector that production be regulated through quota mechanisms to stabilize the market and ensure fair compensation for producers.

Opportunities for Adaptation and Investment

This dual vulnerability—climatic and price-related—opens the door for adaptation solutions. Key areas of opportunity include:

• Autonomous ventilation systems
• Backup generators
• Thermal insulation for poultry buildings

This represents a high-potential niche for equipment suppliers and investors willing to secure a strategic sector that is critical to the country’s food supply.