South Korea will import 2.24 million eggs from the US to stabilise prices as bird flu culls over 4 million hens, marking the first US egg purchase in two years.
SEOUL: South Korea will import 2.24 million fresh eggs from the United States this month to stabilise domestic prices. The move is a response to the recent spread of highly contagious avian influenza.
The Korea Agro-Fisheries and Food Trade Corp will purchase and distribute the eggs to supermarkets and food suppliers. This marks the country’s first import of US-produced eggs in two years.
A ministry official confirmed Seoul last imported US eggs in January 2024. The import is a preemptive measure against a potential egg supply shortage.
The country has been coping with the spread of highly pathogenic bird flu in recent months. Since the start of the cold season, more than 4.32 million laying hens have been culled at affected farms.
The agriculture ministry said the country’s egg supply currently remains stable. The number of laying hens grew 1.2% from a year earlier as of the end of 2025.
However, daily egg production dropped 1.1% to 49 million over the cited period. South Korea has confirmed more than 30 cases of highly contagious AI at poultry farms this winter as of Monday. – BERNAMA – YONHAP
