Unusual Spread of Highly Pathogenic AI... What Will Happen to Egg Prices with No Frozen Stock?

Due to the spread of highly pathogenic avian influenza (AI), the price of a carton of eggs has surpassed 6,000 won. According to the Korea Agro-Fisheries & Food Trade Corporation (aT) on the 11th, the retail price of a carton of eggs was recorded at 6,082 won as of the 8th. As the spread of AI shows no signs of slowing, concerns are rising that the prices of chicken and eggs, which affect meal costs, may increase further. Citizens are seen examining eggs at a large supermarket in Seoul on this day. Photo by Moon Honam munonam@

[Sejong=Asia Economy Reporter Kim Hyunjung] As confirmed cases of highly pathogenic avian influenza (AI) are rapidly increasing in South Korea, prices of poultry products such as eggs and duck meat are rising. If this situation continues, egg prices?which, unlike broiler chickens, have no frozen stock?are expected to surge further in the short term.

According to the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs on the 14th, as of 9 a.m. on that day since October 1 of last year, the number of confirmed highly pathogenic AI cases at domestic poultry farms increased by 5 cases (Muan, Anseong, Mungyeong, Jeongeup, Pocheon) from the previous day, totaling 56 cases. Additional tests are currently underway in Cheonan, Hongseong, Eumseong, and Anseong, where suspected cases have been identified. Including ornamental birds (2 cases) and wild birds (72 cases) as of the same time, the total number of confirmed cases in South Korea reaches 130.

Up to this day, the government has culled a total of 16,296,000 birds across 58 rounds nationwide, including laying hens (103 farms, 7,252,000 birds), broilers (64 farms, 4,738,000 birds), meat ducks (73 farms, 1,507,000 birds), breeding chickens (13 farms, 552,000 birds), native chickens (17 farms, 402,000 birds), quail and ornamental birds (13 farms, 1,742,000 birds), and breeding ducks (14 farms, 103,000 birds).

As the scale of culling laying hens grows, the upward trend in egg prices is also notable. The farm-gate price of eggs (special grade, per 10 eggs) was 1,497 won as of 4 p.m. on the 13th, up 28.6% compared to the same period last year, while consumer prices rose 18.8% to 2,097 won during the same period.

Duck meat prices are also on the rise, with consumer prices for duck reaching 14,674 won per kilogram, a sharp increase of 31.9% compared to last year. Broiler chicken consumer prices rose 11.5% year-on-year to 5,683 won per kilogram.