South Korea imports eggs to stabilise prices after HPAI shortfall
Government backs additional 210 million eggs for July and August
23 July 2026
1 minute read
By: South Korea's government has stepped up egg imports to stabilise domestic supplies and curb rising prices following an HPAI-driven shortfall in laying hen numbers, according to the USDA Foreign Agricultural Service.
Average retail prices for a tray of 30 extra-large eggs rose 5.3% year on year in the first half of 2026 to 7,079 Korean won ($4.80). The government responded with consumer coupon subsidies and authorised imports of approximately 31.4 million eggs from the United States, Thailand and Brazil by early July, backed by 21.5 billion won ($14.5 million) in government support for transportation and repackaging costs.
Around 16.5 million eggs were successfully imported in the first half of the year, sourced from the US and Thailand. With domestic production recovering more slowly than expected, the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs approved a further 210 million egg imports from the US and Thailand during July and August, supported by an additional 99.7 billion won ($67 million) to ease household costs ahead of the Chuseok holiday peak season in September.
The response mirrors a similar government intervention during the 2021 egg price crisis, also triggered by HPAI, when South Korea imported approximately 380 million eggs, the majority from the US.
