"Eggs, a Staple Grocery Item, Jump 20% from Last Year... Food Prices Under Threat"

56 Cases of Highly Pathogenic AI in the 2025–2026 Winter Season... Far Surpassing Last Year's 49 Cases

Egg Prices Up Nearly 20% Year-on-Year Despite Imports of Fresh Eggs

Beef and Pork Prices Also Soaring

As high oil prices and a strong dollar driven by turmoil in the Middle East are intensifying inflationary pressures, the simultaneous spread of the “three major livestock epidemics” is threatening food prices. These “three major epidemics” refer to highly pathogenic avian influenza (AI), African swine fever (ASF), and foot-and-mouth disease. For two consecutive years—last year and this year—all three major livestock epidemics have occurred simultaneously.

According to the Livestock Products Distribution Information from the Korea Institute for Animal Products Quality Evaluation on March 16, the price of a pack of 10 large eggs was KRW 3,898 as of the previous day, up 19.9% from KRW 3,250 during the same period last year. This amounts to approximately KRW 390 per egg.

A customer is purchasing eggs at a large supermarket in Seoul. Photo by Jinhyung Kang

This sharp increase in egg prices is due to the spread of highly pathogenic AI. According to the Central Accident Management Headquarters for Highly Pathogenic AI, an AI case was confirmed in Pocheon on March 13, bringing the total number of highly pathogenic AI outbreaks at domestic poultry farms during the 2025–2026 winter season to 56. This already far exceeds the 49 cases recorded in the 2024–2025 season. The number of layer hens culled due to AI has surpassed 9.8 million, approaching 10 million. This is double the figure from a year ago (4.83 million) and about four times higher than two to three years ago.

In response to rising egg prices, the government has expanded its discount support and imported 1.12 million fresh eggs from the United States in January of this year. An additional 4.71 million fresh eggs are being imported this month as well, yet egg prices continue to rise. The Agricultural Outlook Center at the Korea Rural Economic Institute projects that the average daily egg production this month will fall by 5.8% year-on-year to 47.54 million eggs, attributing this to the expanded culling of layer hens and the resulting decrease in the number of birds raised.

Chicken prices are also on the rise. As of March 15, the consumer price for 1kg of broiler chicken stood at KRW 6,251, up 7.9% (KRW 459) from a month ago and 8.4% (KRW 483) from a year earlier. The Korea Rural Economic Institute expects that the chicken supply and demand situation will fluctuate depending on the occurrence and spread of highly pathogenic AI.

Pork prices continue to climb as well, mainly due to the spread of African swine fever (ASF). As of March 3, a total of 22 ASF cases have been reported so far this year, marking the highest number ever recorded. As a result, the price for pork belly was KRW 2,601 per 100g as of the previous day, up 3.9% from a year earlier. Pork shoulder (neck) increased by 5.3% over the same period. In particular, the price of front leg meat soared 11.0% year-on-year to KRW 1,514 per 100g. The main factor was a decline in the number of pigs slaughtered due to movement restrictions following ASF outbreaks. The number of pigs slaughtered last month dropped more than 15% from a year earlier, compounded by fewer working days.

Beef prices have also risen significantly. As of the previous day, the price of tenderloin (Grade 1, 100g) was KRW 14,012, up 13.2% (KRW 1,629) from KRW 12,383 during the same period last year. Sirloin prices have risen even more steeply, climbing 17.3% year-on-year to KRW 10,221 per 100g. The Agricultural Outlook Center expects upward price pressure to continue for the time being, citing a decrease in the number of Korean cattle raised and the resulting drop in slaughter numbers. The number of Korean cattle slaughtered this year is projected at 862,000, down 9.1% from last year. This number is expected to decrease further to 826,000 in 2027 and 823,000 in 2028.

Livestock product prices already saw a sharp rise last month. According to the National Data Office’s consumer price index for February, the index for livestock products rose 6% year-on-year, primarily due to reduced production and the spread of livestock epidemics. Pork and eggs recorded steep increases of 7.3% and 6.7%, respectively.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.