June 22, 2026
 

South Korea's egg prices top 5,000 won as heatwave fuels food inflation concerns

A first-ever monthly average above the 5,000 won threshold follows mass culling after last winter's avian influenza outbreak, with the government moving to import over 21 million eggs to stabilise supply.

The national average retail price of 10 extra-large eggs in South Korea reached 5,222 won this month, up 38.6% from June last year and 16.7% from last month, marking the first time the monthly average has exceeded 5,000 won, according to the Korea Institute for Animal Products Quality Evaluation.

The price had remained in the 3,000 won range from March 2022 through April this year before breaking past 4,000 won last month and surpassing 5,000 won this month. At large supermarkets, consumers have rushed to buy US fresh eggs priced around 5,000 won per carton at opening time. The average consumer price of a 30-egg carton also rose to 7,465 won, up 6.5% year-on-year.

The price increase is driven primarily by reduced supply. A large number of laying hens were culled following highly pathogenic avian influenza last winter, and production has declined further as breeding density improvement measures have been implemented. Rising feed costs linked to exchange rate movements have added to production cost pressure, with concerns that egg-laying rates could fall further as full summer heat sets in.

Broiler chicken prices have also risen, with the national average consumer price reaching 6,650 won per kilogramme this month, up 19.4% year-on-year. Increased demand for samgyetang, a ginseng chicken soup associated with hot weather, has been cited as a contributing factor, with average prices in Seoul exceeding 18,000 won per serving and surpassing 20,000 won in some commercial districts.

The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs has activated a Summer Agricultural and Livestock Supply and Demand Stabilisation Task Force and plans to supply 21.12 million US and Thai fresh eggs to the market through next month. The government had previously supplied 10.11 million fresh eggs since January, comprising 6.74 million from the US and 3.37 million from Thailand, through the Korea Agro-Fisheries and Food Trade Corporation.

- The Seoul Economic Daily