Egg Carton Price Surpasses 7,000 Won Again... Supply Instability Worsens Amid Avian Influenza

3 Million Laying Hens Culled During Winter Due to Avian Influenza

Egg prices, a staple on dining tables, are once again on the rise. The spread of highly pathogenic avian influenza (AI) has led to an increase in the culling of laying hens, compounding supply instability.

According to the Livestock Distribution Information of the Korea Institute for Animal Products Quality Evaluation on December 25, the average retail price for a carton (30 eggs) of large eggs has exceeded 7,000 won since last week. After remaining in the 6,000-won range since last month, the consumer price of eggs climbed back above 7,000 won for the first time in about a month. As of December 23, the price stood at 7,010 won, which is 0.8% higher than last year and 8.3% higher than the average year (6,471 won).

Egg prices have risen by 11.5% compared to the previous year, with the average price of a carton exceeding 7,000 won, causing a surge in "table prices." The photo shows the egg sales section at a large supermarket in Seoul on the 10th. 2025.06.10 Photo by [Photographer's Name]

Farm-gate prices for eggs are also trending upward. According to data from the Korea Agro-Fisheries & Food Trade Corporation, the farm-gate price for 30 large eggs was 5,215 won as of December 23, up 8.5% compared to both last year and the average year.

Amid rising prices, concerns over supply instability are also emerging. This winter, there have been 11 cases of highly pathogenic avian influenza outbreaks at laying hen farms, nearly double the 6 cases reported during the same period last year.

According to the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, the number of laying hens culled due to confirmed avian influenza cases this winter has increased to 3 million. With around 50 million eggs produced daily nationwide, this culling is estimated to have reduced daily production by about 3 to 4%. If 5 million laying hens are culled, egg production is expected to decrease by approximately 3 million eggs per day.

Recently, avian influenza has been repeatedly detected at laying hen farms. On this day, the H5 antigen was found at a laying hen farm in Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi Province, which houses 250,000 birds. On December 24, a case of highly pathogenic AI was confirmed at a laying hen farm in Anseong, Gyeonggi Province, where 119,000 hens were being raised.