[Iclickart]
The first batch of two million Thai eggs will arrive in South Korea next week as prices run high due to a second outbreak of bird flu that followed the culling of millions of layer chickens this winter.
It is the first time that South Korea has imported eggs from any Asian countries. The agriculture ministry said it plans to import about two to 2.3 million eggs from Thailand every week.
A survey conducted by the Korea Price Research Center showed that a package of 30 eggs was sold for about 8,100 won (about seven US dollars) in January last year. The price rose to 11,040 won in January this year and 10,440 won this week.
Thai eggs will cost about 100 won each, about a third of the average price of domestically produced eggs. The dispelled consumer worries about quality saying Thai eggs passed international standards.
In January, Seoul eased trade restrictions to bring about 100 tons of fresh eggs from the United States. Since then, South Korea has imported eggs from New Zealand, Australia, Canada, Denmark, Netherlands and Spain.
South Korea was hit by the fresh spread of highly pathogenic avian flu this month after a two-month lull. The earlier outbreak has left a record 37 million birds culled since it was reported first in November last year.
Park Sae-jin = swatchsjp@ajunews.com
reporter
Park Sae-jin
swatchsjp@ajunews.com
