South Korea Culls Laying Hens as Winter Avian Flu Tightens Egg Supply

Winter outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza have led South Korea to cull far more laying hens this season, tightening egg supplies and lifting prices. The Korea Animal Products Quality Evaluation Institute said the average consumer price for a 30‑egg carton of large eggs stood at 7,045 won as of the 12th, about 1,000 won higher than a year earlier and a 16.6% year‑on‑year rise.

Egg prices have topped the 7,000‑won mark for the first time in about a month and a half, the institute added. The surge reflects the strain on the laying-hen stock from ongoing culling and disease control measures during the winter period.

About 9.76 million laying hens have been culled this winter, roughly double the tally from last year, according to the same data. The figure underscores how poultry disease management has intensified the supply shock in a critical food category.

Authorities say they are reviewing suspected cases of improper trading, including potential premium charges by some farms, as part of a broader effort to stabilize prices. The government plans to roll out poultry price stabilization measures by the end of May.

For international readers, the episode illustrates how avian influenza outbreaks can ripple beyond Korea, affecting global poultry markets, consumer prices, and trade policy. Shifts in egg and feed costs in one major producer can influence prices and supply chains in other countries, including the United States.

The Korea Animal Products Quality Evaluation Institute provides price and quality data on livestock products, and Yonhap News Agency, a major Korean news service, reported the figures and government remarks. The developments come amid ongoing concerns about animal disease control and market stability in a tightly linked regional food market.