The United States imported eggs from Russia in July 2025 for the first time since 1992, according to information released by RIA Novosti, the Russian state news agency. The U.S. purchased fresh chicken eggs from Russia, with the total expenditure reaching $455,000. This information was also disseminated via the agency’s X (formerly Twitter) account.
The need for these imports stemmed from a substantial egg shortage in the U.S. and an associated surge in prices. The avian flu outbreak that began in early 2025 severely impacted the domestic supply of both chickens and eggs, leading to a dramatic rise in egg prices.
Even with some price stabilization in recent months, July 2025 saw egg prices 16.4% higher than the previous year. The U.S. government made the decision to import eggs from new suppliers to ensure a steady supply.
The implications of avian flu, including egg shortages and elevated prices, were felt throughout the year. A January 2025 report by CNN noted that many stores had to limit egg purchases, and by February, the price of a dozen eggs had climbed to $7. Experts estimated that it would take 6-9 months for the American food market to normalize.
It is crucial to understand the wider picture of U.S.-Russia trade relations. Trade between the two countries has been substantially reduced. Following the 2022 invasion of Ukraine, the U.S. imposed severe economic and trade sanctions on Russia, including freezing the assets of the Russian central bank, disconnecting major Russian banks from the SWIFT system, restricting investment in the energy sector, and sanctioning numerous key Russian individuals. Moreover, the U.S. implemented import bans on goods such as oil, gas, coal, seafood, and diamonds from Russia. Despite these sanctions, Trump and Putin held a meeting in Alaska to discuss potential economic cooperation.