South Korea’s Egg Prices Surge as Bird Flu Hits Supply, Prompting U.S. Imports
Egg prices in South Korea have surged again as avian influenza spreads, with a standard carton of 30 large eggs trading around 7,000 won at major supermarkets. The latest data show the average consumer price for a carton of 특란 (large eggs) at 7,045 won, up about 16.6% from a year earlier. The price last crossed 7,000 won in late January, after dipping into the 6,000s earlier this year.
Smaller packs are rising even faster. The average price for a 10-egg pack stood at 3,902 won, up 21.1% from 3,222 won a year ago. The primary driver is the spread of high-pathogenic avian influenza (AI), which has forced widespread culling of laying hens. As of January 11, the number of laying hens culled nationwide for the 2025–2026 winter season reached 9.76 million, more than double the figure from the same period a year earlier and well above averages from recent years.
Bird-flu activity is rising quickly. This winter has seen 55 AI incidents so far, surpassing totals for 2022–2023 (32 cases) and 2024–2025 (49 cases). The combination of fewer producers and ongoing disease pressure is keeping supply tight and prices elevated.
Looking ahead, the Korea Rural Economic Institute’s Agricultural Observation Center expects daily egg production to average about 47.54 million in February, a 5.8% drop from a year earlier. Farm-gate prices for 특란 are projected to be about 1,800 won per carton, roughly 13% higher than last year, signaling continued pressure on wholesale and retail prices.
To alleviate tight supply, the government has expanded imports of fresh eggs from the United States. However, officials say the market has not fully stabilized. The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs is also reviewing potential unfair trading practices after reports that some laying-hen farmers sought premiums from distributors. Officials say they are checking for anticompetitive behavior and plan policy improvements to stabilize egg prices by the end of May.
Why this matters for the United States and global markets: Egg shortages in Korea reflect how avian influenza can disrupt livestock supply chains, feeding into higher food prices and inflation that ripple beyond borders. Korea’s move to import U.S. eggs illustrates how U.S. agricultural exports can help neighboring economies manage shocks, with potential implications for global egg markets, trade policy, and food-security planning. For U.S. policymakers and investors, the situation underscores the importance of resilience in poultry supply chains, biosecurity, and the interfaces between domestic production, imports, and price stability in a volatile commodity sector.