The largest egg and poultry producer in Cape Verde has announced a temporary suspension of production until the end of April due to supply disruptions caused by storms in Portugal.
According to João Santos, head of the board of Sociave, the company has been unable to import fertilized eggs from the Leiria region following severe flooding. These eggs are essential for chick production in São Vicente.
“With the floods in Leiria, there were supply issues, and this will affect our production,” Santos said, noting that while there are already chicks about a week old, the company expects a three-week drop in production.
Despite the disruption, Sociave has released around 40,000 eggs from existing stock to help stabilize the market and ensure continued supply in the short term.
Read more: António Costa expresses “full solidarity” with Portugal after storms
Santos also stressed the importance of keeping consumers informed to prevent speculation, especially after egg prices surged significantly in recent weeks.
The disruption comes after severe weather systems—Kristin, Leonardo, and Marta—hit Portugal from late January, causing widespread destruction. At least 19 people died, with many more injured or displaced, and damages running into billions of euros.
The storms led to flooding, infrastructure damage, and major disruptions across several regions, particularly in central Portugal, Lisbon and Tagus Valley, and Alentejo—impacting key agricultural and supply chains such as those linked to Cape Verde.
