Supply of 30 Million Imported Units... Government "Proactive Response to Supply-Demand Instability Concerns"

AI Outbreak at Laying Hen Farms in Cheonan, Chungnam and Yeongam, Jeonnam
Government "Considering Immediate Egg Import Measures in Emergencies"

A citizen examining American eggs at a warehouse-style discount store in Seocho-gu, Seoul. Photo by Mun Ho-nam munonam@

[Sejong=Asia Economy Reporter Moon Chaeseok] The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs announced on the 9th that it will supply 30 million imported fresh eggs to respond to the recent rise in egg prices following the confirmation of highly pathogenic avian influenza (AI) at layer farms.

Recently, highly pathogenic AI was confirmed at layer farms in Cheonan, Chungnam, and Yeongam, Jeonnam, leading authorities to cull the poultry at the affected farms. As a result, about 240,000 eggs are not being supplied daily. This accounts for approximately 0.005% of the domestic daily egg production of 45 million eggs.

This year, the scope of preventive culling is being flexibly adjusted according to the risk of AI outbreaks, making large-scale culling like in the past unlikely.

However, as AI occurred consecutively at two layer farms, concerns over supply instability have increased, prompting traditional markets and some distributors to attempt to raise egg prices.

In response, the government plans to promptly supply 30 million imported fresh eggs (from the United States) for this month. A government official stated, "We plan to review measures to ensure that eggs can be imported immediately if an emergency situation arises in the future."