May 19, 2026
 

South Korea expands egg imports from US and Thailand as HPAI culling and rising costs push retail prices higher

Government procurement alone is not expected to be sufficient to cool the market, with supply recovery still months away.

South Korea's Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs has approved the importation of an additional 4.48 million eggs from the United States and Thailand in May and June, as retail egg prices climb back towards KRW7,300 (US$5.30) per tray of 30.

According to the Korea Institute for Animal Products Quality Evaluation, the consumer price for a tray of extra-large eggs reached KRW7,316 (US$5.33) on 13 May, 4.1% above last year's average of KRW7,026 (US$5.12). Prices had dipped to KRW6,910 (US$5.03) in the third week of April before resuming their upward trend.

The ministry said 2.24 million eggs will arrive from the US by 19 May, with a further 1.12 million from Thailand by 27 May. An additional 1.12 million will be sourced in June from whichever country offers the lower price. The latest tranche follows 5.64 million fresh eggs already imported since January.

The primary driver of tight supply is the culling of 11.34 million laying hens during the 2025–2026 HPAI season, the heaviest losses since 2020–2021, when 16.96 million birds were destroyed. As replacement pullets require approximately six months to reach laying age, the Korea Rural Economic Institute forecast in March that egg production in May and June would fall around 3% year on year.

Rising production costs are adding further pressure. Kerosene used to heat poultry houses was priced at KRW1,402 per litre (US$1.02) in the first week of May, approximately 25% above last year's average. Compound poultry feed rose to KRW565 per kilogram (US$0.41), up 4.4% from KRW541 (US$0.39) in November 2024, reflecting elevated fuel and raw material costs linked to Middle East tensions.

The Korea Fair Trade Commission separately announced on 14 May that it was investigating suspected price collusion by the Laying Hen Association, a development the Ministry of Agriculture said it would consider when reviewing potential sanctions against the body.