Japan along with Taiwan, the Korean peninsula and southern China are seasonally impacted by H5N1 avian influenza as a result of northward and southward migration of marine birds and waterfowl.

Asian nations have been affected by avian influenza with H5N1 predominating over the past three years. Japan recently disclosed to WOAH an outbreak involving 1.2 million birds in a large broiler-growing farm that occurred in mid-October.  The reason for the delay in officially reporting the case is unknown.  Since September, Japan has experienced twelve major cases of avian influenza.

If the fall outbreaks continue into winter, Japan will be forced to import both shell eggs and egg liquids.  The U.S. supplies a considerable proportion of the requirements for egg liquids with this nation as our major export customer.  The question regarding shell eggs is less promising given current domestic prices following our inability to control avian influenza and the availability from other exporters including Brazil, Thailand and even China.