U.S. Scrambles Globally for Eggs Amid Shortage: Needs 100M Monthly

Korean Farms Join Effort with First U.S. Egg Export

The United States is facing an unprecedented egg shortage crisis, driving authorities to scour the globe for solutions as domestic supply dwindles. With egg prices skyrocketing due to avian influenza outbreaks, the nation is now turning to international markets, including Europe and Asia, to secure approximately 100 million eggs per month. For the first time in history, South Korea has stepped into the fray, exporting eggs to the U.S., marking a significant milestone in this global effort to stabilize supply. This development comes as American consumers grapple with soaring costs, with egg prices surging 53% over the past year, according to the January 2025 Consumer Price Index.

The root of this crisis lies in the devastating impact of bird flu across U.S. poultry farms. Over the past two years, the outbreak has led to the culling of 40 million chickens in 2024 alone, followed by an additional 15 million in early 2025. This drastic reduction in poultry numbers has slashed egg production, leaving grocery shelves bare and prompting retailers like Costco in Los Angeles County, California, to post "out of stock" notices. Bloomberg reports that to bridge this gap, the U.S. needs to import between 70 million and 100 million eggs within the next one to two months, a figure that underscores the urgency of the situation. As a result, U.S. officials have reached out to major egg-producing nations, including Poland, France, Indonesia, and now South Korea, to bolster supply chains and mitigate the ongoing egg shortage crisis.

Poland, the world’s second-largest egg exporter, and France, a key player in the European market, have been among the first contacted. However, responses have been lukewarm due to their own challenges. Thomas Bartlett, General Secretary of France’s SNIPO egg industry group, told Bloomberg that France has little to spare, as the European Union is also battling its own bird flu outbreak, pushing wholesale egg prices to a two-year high. Similarly, Poland’s poultry producers indicated to U.S. embassy officials that they could offer only limited shipments of fresh eggs due to logistical constraints and short shelf life, a common hurdle in egg exports. Meanwhile, Indonesia’s Deputy Agriculture Minister Sudaryono provided a glimmer of hope, stating the country could supply around 1.6 million eggs monthly, though this falls far short of America’s towering demand.

Amid these negotiations, South Korea has emerged as an unexpected ally in the U.S. quest for egg supply stability. On March 7, 2025, a farm in Asan, South Chungcheong Province, held a ceremony to mark its inaugural export of 20 tons of large eggs to Georgia on America’s East Coast. This shipment, equivalent to roughly 333,000 eggs, represents South Korea’s first foray into the U.S. egg market, a move hailed as a breakthrough in bilateral trade. While this volume is a drop in the bucket compared to the 100 million eggs needed monthly, it signals potential for future growth in South Korean egg exports to the U.S., especially as domestic producers eye opportunities to diversify their markets.

The global hunt for eggs highlights the complexities of international trade in perishable goods. Eggs, with their fragile nature and short shelf life, pose unique challenges for long-distance transport, requiring stringent quality controls and rapid delivery systems. Despite these hurdles, the U.S. is pressing forward, with Turkey emerging as a major supplier, projected to increase its annual egg exports to the U.S. from 70 million to 420 million, according to the Washington Post. This dramatic uptick underscores Turkey’s pivotal role, yet even this boost may not fully quench America’s thirst for eggs, given the scale of the shortage.

For American consumers, the egg shortage crisis translates to sticker shock at the checkout line. A carton of eggs that once cost a few dollars now commands premium prices, straining household budgets and prompting calls for government intervention. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has responded with a $1 billion initiative aimed at combating avian flu, replacing lost flocks, and expanding egg imports, as outlined in a February 2025 press release. This multifaceted approach seeks to address both the immediate supply crunch and the long-term resilience of the poultry industry, though experts warn that recovery could take months, if not years, due to the biological constraints of rebuilding chicken populations.

South Korea’s entry into the U.S. egg market, while modest, carries symbolic weight and practical implications. The Asan farm’s 20-ton shipment, valued for its quality and freshness, could pave the way for further collaboration, especially if South Korean producers scale up capacity to meet American demand. Local media in Korea have spotlighted this export as a testament to the country’s agricultural prowess, with the $ equivalent of millions potentially flowing into rural economies if the partnership deepens. For the U.S., every additional supplier counts as authorities work to stabilize egg prices and ensure availability, a task made more daunting by the persistent threat of bird flu both at home and abroad.

The broader picture reveals a world grappling with interconnected food security challenges. Europe’s own egg shortages, driven by similar avian influenza outbreaks, limit its ability to assist the U.S., while Asia’s contributions, including from Indonesia and South Korea, remain nascent but promising. The USDA’s economic research, tracking poultry and egg trade since 1989, suggests that global supply chains will need to adapt swiftly to meet these unprecedented demands. For now, the U.S. egg shortage crisis serves as a stark reminder of the fragility of agricultural systems in the face of disease and the critical role of international cooperation in averting deeper disruptions.

As this saga unfolds, the spotlight remains on how nations like South Korea can leverage their agricultural strengths to support a reeling U.S. market. With egg prices showing no immediate signs of retreat, per CBS News projections for 2025, consumers and policymakers alike are watching closely. The interplay of supply, demand, and global trade dynamics will shape the next chapter of this story, with each shipment, whether from Seoul or Istanbul, offering a lifeline in America’s scramble to keep breakfast tables stocked.