A notice at a hypermarket in Seoul on June 21 announces the sale of US-imported fresh eggs. [Yonhap]
A notice at a hypermarket in Seoul on June 21 announces the sale of US-imported fresh eggs. [Yonhap]

US-imported eggs priced in the 5,000-won range have sold out at major hypermarkets across the country.

According to industry sources Tuesday, E-mart sold 20,000 trays of US-imported eggs at 5,880 won each at its stores nationwide on June 20, selling out by around 6 p.m. that day despite a one-tray-per-customer limit.

Lotte Mart also sold 7,000 trays of US-imported eggs at 5,790 won per tray across 40 of its stores on June 20, moving 97 percent of the supply over the weekend. The retailer set a two-tray-per-customer limit.

E-mart plans to sell US-imported eggs again starting Wednesday, and both US and Thai-imported eggs from June 27. Lotte Mart is rolling out 9,000 trays at 5,790 won per tray starting Tuesday, beginning with Greater Seoul stores before expanding to 106 locations nationwide.

Egg prices remain elevated. According to distribution data from the Korea Institute for Animal Products Quality Evaluation, the national average retail price for a standard 30-count tray of premium-grade eggs this month stands at 7,467 won, up 6.5 percent from the same month last year. A 10-count tray of large-grade eggs costs 5,222 won, up 38.6 percent year on year.


siuu@heraldcorp.com