Thailand’s Fresh Eggs: How Importing 2.24 Million Can Stabilize Prices in Korea

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[Asia Times = Kim Min-sol] With supply worries mounting amid the spread of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), the government is turning to Thailand to import fresh eggs for the first time.

On the 7th, the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs and the Korea Agro-Fisheries & Food Trade Corporation (aT) announced they will import 2.24 million fresh eggs from Thailand in staggered shipments beginning April 10.

An outbreak of HPAI in Ohio, the U.S. state that had been supplying imported eggs, halted those shipments. To fill the gap, officials diversified import sources and added Thailand to the roster.

Before scaling up imports, aT tested sample shipments to confirm safety and quality. The agency says the eggs meet quarantine and hygiene standards set by the quarantine authority and the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety.

The eggs are Thailand’s brown A‑grade large eggs (60 g or more), verified by Thailand’s Department of Livestock Development (DLD). Under Korean standards, they correspond to the “special” grade.

aT plans to air‑freight all 2.24 million eggs in nine batches from April 10 through the end of the month. After arrival, the eggs will go through import quarantine and food inspections, followed by disinfection, sorting, and shell labeling.

Previously, U.S. imports were distributed mainly through large retailers and foodservice suppliers. The plan is to put more Thai eggs into small and midsize marts, which should let shoppers buy imported eggs at roughly 70% of the price of domestic eggs.

According to livestock distribution service Dabom, the national average consumer price for a 30‑egg pack of special eggs on the 6th was 7,051 KRW (approximately $5.29), up 9.7% from 6,429 KRW (approximately $4.82) a year earlier. A 10‑egg pack averaged 4,033 KRW (approximately $3.02), a 23.8% increase year‑on‑year.

Moon In‑chul, aT’s supply director, said, “Bringing in fresh eggs from Thailand expands our pool of egg‑importing countries. Even as international biosecurity and geopolitical conditions evolve, we’re working to build a stable supply chain to steady supply and ease consumers’ grocery bills.”