In the Polish poultry sector, the packaging of eggs produced in cage systems continues to dominate. Although alternative production systems – such as barn housing, free-range farming, and organic production – are gaining importance, their market share still remains lower than that of intensive methods. These trends are confirmed by the latest statistical data on the packaging of table eggs collected under the report on poultry hatchings and table egg production (R-09W). The survey covers all egg packing stations listed in the register of the Chief Veterinary Inspectorate.
It is worth noting that since 2023 the scope of collected information has been expanded. In addition to the total volume, statistics now include a detailed breakdown by four housing systems for laying hens. This allows for more precise monitoring of structural transformation in Polish agriculture and a reliable assessment of the growth rate of interest in alternative farming methods.
Over 2 billion eggs in the first quarter of 2025
An analysis of the data shows that in the first quarter of 2025, a total of 2,008,222 thousand table eggs were packed in Polish facilities, exceeding the threshold of 2 billion units. The dominant role in this structure was played by the cage system, which supplied as many as 1,169,683 thousand eggs. This confirms that despite growing social pressure, EU regulations, and changing strategies among retail chains, cage farming still remains the backbone of egg supply in Poland.
The structure of egg packing by housing system was as follows:
- Barn system: 559,570 thousand eggs (the second most common system),
- Free-range system: 235,271 thousand eggs,
- Organic system: 43,698 thousand eggs.
These figures illustrate a clear imbalance – although alternative segments are recording steady growth, their combined share of the market remains significantly lower than that of cage production.
Greater Poland: The undisputed production hub
The regional production map of eggs in Poland reveals a strong concentration of the sector in only a few provinces. The absolute leader remains Greater Poland (Wielkopolskie), where 1,245,921 thousand eggs were packed in the first quarter of 2025. This means that the region alone generates more than half of the national volume of packed eggs.
The following regions ranked next:
- Mazowieckie Voivodeship – 130,840 thousand eggs,
- Opolskie Voivodeship – 117,830 thousand eggs,
- Dolnośląskie Voivodeship – 105,084 thousand eggs.
In the case of some regions, detailed data were not disclosed publicly due to statistical confidentiality. This situation occurs where the number of market entities is so small that publishing the data could allow identification of specific producers.
Evolution towards animal welfare
Despite the continued dominance of cage systems, the market is clearly evolving. The barn system is developing particularly dynamically and in many regions is becoming a key pillar of production. At the same time, free-range farming is increasingly responding to the growing expectations of consumers regarding animal welfare.
The smallest yet steadily growing segment is organic egg production. Its expansion is directly linked to the growth of the organic food market and to changes in consumer awareness, as more and more Polish consumers declare their willingness to pay a higher price for products meeting strict environmental standards.
Methodology: What lies behind the numbers?
It should be remembered that the presented statistics refer exclusively to eggs passing through certified packing stations subject to reporting obligations. Therefore, these data do not reflect the total production of table eggs in the country. The following categories remain outside the dataset:
- Unpacked eggs directed directly to processing and the food industry,
- Production intended for household self-consumption,
- Direct sales carried out by smaller farmers.
As a result, the actual supply of eggs on the Polish market is significantly higher than indicated by the official registers of packing facilities.
The Polish market in an era of transformation
Changes in the structure of egg production are currently one of the most important processes in the European poultry sector. Poland, being one of the largest egg producers in the European Union, is undergoing a gradual but inevitable transformation. This process is driven by three main factors: tightening legal requirements, pro-environmental corporate policies, and evolving consumer attitudes.
Although the transition away from cage systems is progressing, data for the first quarter of 2025 show that it is a process that will unfold over many years. Producers must make substantial investments to modernize infrastructure. Nevertheless, it can be expected that in the coming decades regulatory pressure from the EU and rising social awareness will gradually shift the center of gravity of Polish production towards alternative farming systems.
Source: own elaboration based on data from Statistics Poland (GUS).
