South Korea expands egg imports to Brazil as prices stay elevated after HPAI outbreak
Authorities expect domestic production to recover later this year but continue short-term interventions to stabilise the market.
SOUTH KOREA – South Korea will import an additional 20 million eggs as part of efforts to ease sustained price pressure linked to last winter’s highly pathogenic avian influenza outbreak.
The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs said Brazil will now be included as a new supplier alongside the United States and Thailand, marking the first time South Korea has sourced eggs from the South American country.
As of 3 June, the price of a 30-egg tray stood at 7,472 won, reflecting a 9.3% rise over the past three months and around 16% higher than the same period in the previous year.
Imports fail to fully offset domestic shortfall
Authorities said earlier imports of 5.62 million eggs from the United States and 3.37 million from Thailand, totalling 8.99 million units, have not been enough to close the supply gap created by the outbreak.
The decision to include Brazil is part of a broader effort to diversify sourcing and reduce reliance on a limited group of exporting countries.
To cushion households, the government has extended a subsidy scheme through 1 July that lowers retail egg prices by 1,500 won per tray, while major retailers such as Emart and Lotte Mart have introduced purchase limits on discounted eggs.
Production recovery expected later in the year
Despite current shortages, officials expect domestic output to return to previous levels by July, supported by a 14.4% year-on-year increase in chick placements between January and April.
That rise has been driven by the import of 17 million hatching eggs, which authorities say is helping rebuild flock numbers after disease-related losses.
The government is also expanding tariff quota allocations for chicken and pork imports to boost overall meat availability in the domestic market as it manages lingering supply disruptions from avian influenza.
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