Egg Smuggling Cases Rise 36% Across the U.S., Says WSJ
Avian Influenza Drives Egg Prices to Record Highs
Over $10 for a Dozen in Major Cities Like New York
Eggs Three Times Cheaper in Mexico, Fueling Illegal Imports
In the United States, recent outbreaks of avian influenza (AI) have caused egg prices to skyrocket, leading to shortages, and cases of smuggling eggs without quarantine checks have surged in the southern border areas.
According to data from the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) cited by the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) on the 16th (local time), the San Diego office in California reported a 158% increase in the number of eggs seized from entrants coming from Mexico since October last year compared to the previous year.
At the CBP office in Laredo, a southern border city in Texas, egg smuggling crackdowns increased by 54% during the same period, and nationwide in the U.S., the number rose by 36%. This is due to the surge in egg prices in the U.S., prompting people to buy cheaper eggs in Mexico, where prices are only about one-third of those in the U.S., and illegally bring them across the border.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture prohibits the importation of eggs through unofficial channels for quarantine reasons. Last month, at the El Paso checkpoint in Texas, a pickup truck driver was caught trying to smuggle methamphetamine hidden in the seats and spare tire, but according to WSJ, what surprised border agents even more were the eggs found in the truck.
According to the U.S. Department of Labor’s consumer price statistics, the average retail price of a dozen Grade A large eggs in the U.S. reached an all-time high of $5.90 (about 8,600 KRW) in February. Compared to $3.00 (about 4,300 KRW) a year ago, the price has doubled, fueling fears of "eggflation" (a portmanteau of egg and inflation). In some retail stores in major cities, it is not uncommon for the price of a dozen eggs to exceed $10.00 (about 14,500 KRW).
The avian influenza outbreak spreading in the U.S. has been the main factor behind the rise in egg prices. According to WSJ, since the outbreak of avian influenza in 2022, 148 million poultry, including chickens and ducks, have been culled. This has caused egg shortages in U.S. grocery stores. Analysts also suggest that consumers hoarding eggs have further driven up prices and shortages.
Meanwhile, the Donald Trump administration decided to invest up to $1 billion (about 1.43 trillion KRW) to stabilize egg prices. The Department of Justice, a regulatory authority, has launched an investigation into allegations of collusion among major companies, and the Department of Agriculture announced last month plans to invest up to $1 billion (about 1.45 trillion KRW) to address the egg price issue. The Department of Agriculture stated, "The Trump administration takes the egg price issue seriously and will implement a comprehensive strategy to combat AI," adding, "We will work to stop this crisis and make eggs affordable again."
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