February 11, 2026

South Korea brings in US eggs as bird flu disrupts supply

South Korea has begun importing shell eggs from the United States as authorities move to ease supply pressure created by repeated outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza in commercial laying flocks.

The distribution of the imported eggs was to start last week after the first shipment of more than 1.1 million eggs arrived in the country, according to the Yonhap news agency.

The decision follows a sustained decline in domestic egg output after multiple avian influenza detections at layer farms, which officials said reduced market availability and prompted authorities to look abroad for short-term supply. This marks the first significant purchase of US shell eggs by South Korea in roughly two years, during which a prior wave of avian influenza infections also disrupted production and led to overseas sourcing.

Health authorities report that South Korea has recorded 38 avian influenza outbreaks so far this season, with the most recent confirmed on January 21 at a broiler breeder farm in South Chungcheong province housing about 107,000 birds.

Laboratory testing showed the flock was infected with the H5N9 strain, making it the tenth poultry farm affected nationwide in January and the third detection of this variant in domestic poultry since December.

In the week before that case, two additional farms tested positive for the H5N1 strain, including one operation in South Chungcheong province and another duck farm in South Jeolla, extending the geographic spread of infections.

Since October, avian influenza has been detected on poultry farms across five provinces as well as in the city of Gwangju, indicating sustained virus circulation during the winter production season.

- Food Business Middle East & Africa