The United States has imported eggs from Russia for the first time in decades, according to reports from the Russian state news agency RIA Novosti. This marks the first such purchase since 1992, a span of 32 years. In July 2025, the U.S. spent $455,000 on fresh chicken eggs from Russia. This information was also shared on the agency’s X (formerly Twitter) handle.
The primary driver behind this decision is the shortage and soaring prices of eggs within the U.S. The avian flu outbreak at the beginning of 2025 severely impacted the nation’s chicken and egg supplies, leading to a significant increase in egg prices. Although some relief has been seen in recent months, egg prices in July were still 16.4% higher than the previous year. The U.S. government opted to import from new sources to stabilize the supply.
The shortage and price hikes caused by avian flu led to challenges throughout the year. A January 2025 CNN report indicated that several stores imposed limits on egg purchases, and by February, the price of a dozen eggs had reached $7. Experts projected that it could take 6-9 months for the U.S. food market to stabilize.
It’s important to note that trade between Russia and the U.S. has significantly decreased. The U.S. has imposed various economic and trade sanctions on Russia since the 2022 invasion of Ukraine. These include freezing billions of dollars of Russia’s central bank assets, removing major Russian banks from the SWIFT system, restricting investment in the energy sector, and sanctions on several prominent Russians. The U.S. has also banned imports of oil, gas, coal, seafood, and diamonds from Russia. However, a meeting took place between Trump and Putin in Alaska, where the leaders discussed the possibilities of economic cooperation.
