S. Korea to import more eggs this month to stabilize prices

South Korea plans to import 40 million eggs in April, up from the initially planned imports of 25 million, to help stabilize rising egg prices caused by the bird flu outbreak.

The Ministry of Economy and Finance said it will push to increase the imports of eggs in May as well and take available steps to curb a sharp rise in egg prices.

The country has imported some 64 million eggs since late January to ease a supply shortage.

Egg prices in South Korea jumped in recent months as the bird flu outbreak ravaged chicken farms across the nation since November last year.

The number of layer chickens reached the lowest in over three years in the first quarter due to massive culling to contain the spread of bird flu.
South Korea temporarily removed tariffs on imported egg products on Jan. 28 to ease a bird flu-triggered supply shortage.

Local firms may import up to 50,000 tons of fresh eggs and seven other kinds of egg products tariff-free until June 30.