The United States made a rare purchase of eggs from Russia in July 2025, marking the first such transaction since 1992. Information released by Russia’s state news agency, RIA Novosti, revealed that the U.S. spent $455,000 on fresh chicken eggs. This data was also disseminated on the agency’s X (formerly Twitter) account.
The primary reason for this import decision was the shortage of eggs in the U.S. and the subsequent price surge. An outbreak of avian flu in early 2025 heavily affected the country’s chicken and egg stocks, leading to escalated egg prices.
Despite some recent easing, the price of eggs in July 2025 was still 16.4% higher compared to the previous year. The U.S. government, in response, chose to import eggs from new suppliers to stabilize the supply chain.
The impacts of the avian flu and the resulting price hikes were felt throughout the year. A January 2025 CNN report indicated that retailers were forced to implement purchasing limits on eggs, and the cost of a dozen eggs rose to $7 by February. Experts predicted that market stabilization would take approximately 6-9 months.
It’s essential to consider that trade between the U.S. and Russia has significantly diminished. Following Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine, the U.S. imposed stringent economic and trade sanctions, including freezing assets, excluding Russian banks from SWIFT, and restricting investments in the energy sector. Furthermore, imports of Russian oil, gas, coal, seafood, and diamonds were banned. A meeting between Trump and Putin in Alaska did occur, during which discussions centered on potential avenues for economic collaboration.