South Korea Egg Prices Over 7,000 Won Per 30-Egg Tray Amid Avian Flu

Egg prices in South Korea have risen above 7,000 won per 30-egg tray as the country copes with the fallout from a highly pathogenic avian influenza outbreak that has led to extensive culling of laying hens.

Data released on the 13th by the Animal Products Quality Evaluation Institute’s Livestock Distribution Information service show that the average price for a tray of large eggs (special eggs) stood at 7,045 won the previous day, up 16.6% from a year earlier. The national average for a 10-egg pack was 3,902 won, up 21.1% year over year. Egg prices had fallen into the 6,000 won range earlier this year but have moved higher again amid supply constraints.

The government says the price rise is tied to the spread of high-path avian influenza since last October, which has driven the culling of laying hens. By January 11, the total culled reached 9.76 million, more than double the 4.83 million culled in the same period a year earlier.

To shore up supply, the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (MAFRA) said Korea imported 2.24 million fresh eggs from the United States in January and plans to bring in a further 4.71 million eggs in March and April. The ministry also indicated it would craft policy measures aimed at stabilizing livestock prices by the end of May.

For U.S. readers, the situation in Korea highlights how a major market can lean on imports to cushion domestic shortages, and how agricultural diseases can ripple through global trade. Korea’s use of U.S. egg imports suggests ongoing demand for U.S. poultry products and a potential nucleotide in the broader Asia-Pacific food-supply dynamic.

Observers note that the outbreak’s persistence could keep egg prices elevated in Korea through the spring, unless new disease control measures, improved biosecurity, or alternative supply arrangements ease the shortage. Korean officials have pledged continued monitoring and policy adjustments to prevent larger price swings.