A tray of 30 eggs averages 7,584 won, topping 8,600 won in Seoul

Chicken prices up 18% from last year, with no relief in sight

Squid costs 40% more than four years ago as catches keep falling

A poultry display at a hypermarket in Seoul [Yonhap]
A poultry display at a hypermarket in Seoul [Yonhap]

Prices for eggs, chicken and squid are rising simultaneously, threatening the cost of everyday meals for ordinary households. As staple ingredients in both home cooking and restaurants, the three items are being singled out as key drivers of mounting dining costs.

The average retail price of a tray of 30 large eggs stood at 7,584 won as of Wednesday, up 7.7 percent from a year earlier (7,043 won) and 10.5 percent above the five-year average (6,862 won), according to the Korea Institute for Animal Products Quality Evaluation's livestock distribution information system. Seoul was the most expensive region at 8,637 won per tray, with Sejong (8,575 won) and Gyeonggi Province (8,152 won) also topping the 8,000-won mark.

The sustained run-up in egg prices stems from a supply crunch caused by highly pathogenic avian influenza. The Agricultural Outlook Center at the Korea Rural Economic Institute projected that the number of laying hens aged six months or older would reach 55.08 million this month, down 3.2 percent from a year earlier. Daily average egg output was forecast to fall 3.3 percent to 47.05 million eggs, and farm-gate prices were expected to rise 6.7 percent year on year.

Eggs are a core ingredient not only in homes but across the bakery, confectionery and restaurant industries, meaning continued price increases could intensify pressure on related products. The government plans to import a total of 31.23 million eggs this year to shore up supply. As of June 1, 8.99 million eggs had arrived from the United States, Thailand and other sources, and the government plans to diversify import origins to include Brazil.

Chicken prices have also been climbing steadily, likewise driven by culling linked to avian influenza. The average retail price of broiler chicken reached 6,660 won per kilogram on Wednesday, up 18.0 percent from a year earlier (5,642 won) and 15.4 percent above the five-year average (5,772 won). After sitting at 5,609 won per kilogram in December, prices crossed the 6,000-won threshold in March at 6,376 won and remained elevated in April (6,582 won) and May (6,518 won).

A menu board at a restaurant inside a hypermarket in Seoul [Yonhap]
A menu board at a restaurant inside a hypermarket in Seoul [Yonhap]

The Agricultural Outlook Center forecast that the average daily slaughter volume this month would fall to between 2.71 million and 2.76 million birds, down roughly 3.0 percent from a year earlier. July is expected to see a further drop to between 2.92 million and 2.98 million birds, down about 1.4 percent.

Squid is adding to the pressure on food prices as well. The average price of one medium-grade coastal squid this year came to 7,932 won, up 11.7 percent from a year earlier (7,104 won), according to the Korea Agro-Fisheries and Food Trade Corporation. Compared with 2022 (5,659 won), the price has risen 40.2 percent over four years.

Shrinking catches are the main culprit. Squid landings from coastal jigging fisheries totaled just 9 tons in the week of May 17-23, a 76.9 percent plunge from the same period a year earlier, according to the Korea Maritime Institute.

The decline reflects a structural problem compounded by rising sea temperatures from climate change and reduced fishing activity. Coastal squid catches first fell below 100,000 tons in 2017 and have continued to slide — to 36,578 tons in 2022, 23,375 tons in 2023 and 13,568 tons in 2024. Landings briefly rebounded to 31,006 tons last year but have weakened again this year.

A hypermarket official said the price increases in key ingredients used by households and restaurants alike were likely to keep adding to consumers' grocery burden, warning that a broad wave of price hikes could ripple through to home meal replacement products, convenience store triangle kimbap and dosirak — categories where prices have so far been held in check.

젠슨황 효과도 무색…치킨집 10곳 중 6곳, 3년도 못 버텼다 [푸드360]

젠슨황 효과도 무색…치킨집 10곳 중 6곳, 3년도 못 버텼다 [푸드360]

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