Ukrainian egg giant Ovostar saw its total flock lift 16 per cent to 5.6 million hens, with laying birds reaching 4.5 million.

Shell egg sales and prices rocketed 44 and 62 per cent respectively. Eggs climbed from 0.73 griva this time last year to 1.19 grivna.

Sales of dry eggs and subsequent exports advanced considerably and were worth double year on year at 98.34 grivna.

Ovostar boss, Borys Bielikov, noted the results had come against a backdrop of “serious devaluation” of the national currency.

“Additional volumes of our produce have been directed to export to increase foreign currency denominated revenue and secure stable results,” said Mr Bielikov. “We plan to maintain this trend in the future.”