Gov't to expand supply of imported eggs amid price hikes
Eggs are displayed at a supermarket in Seoul, June 7. Yonhap
Korea will supply around 4.48 million imported eggs to the local market each week through July as part of efforts to address a decline in the domestic supply following avian influenza outbreaks, the agricultural ministry said Friday.
The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs said a total of 21.12 million eggs imported from the United States and Thailand will be supplied under the scheme, aiming to ease rising consumer prices.
"Local egg prices have been rising due to highly pathogenic avian influenza outbreaks during the previous winter season, along with efforts to improve stocking density at poultry farms," the ministry said.
The retail price of a carton of 30 eggs stood at 7,506 won ($4.83) as of mid-June, up 7.1 percent from a year earlier.
The daily average domestic egg supply came to 47.05 million this month, down 3.3 percent from a year earlier, the ministry added.
The ministry said Korea's egg production is expected to recover to last year's level in July as young hens begin laying eggs.
"The number of egg-laying hens has been gradually increasing, with production also recovering," a ministry official said, noting the government will continue to monitor supplies and take action when necessary.