Philippines to import 280K metric tons of pork this year

The Philippines is expected to import more pork and chicken from the global market as the African Swine Fever (ASF) continues to affect the country’s local supply and production.

According to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Foreign Agricultural Service’s monthly report, the Philippines is expected to import 280,000 metric tons of pork for 2020. That is 26 percent higher than last year’s 222,000 MT.

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Domestic production of meat products will decrease by 8.5 percent, which is 1.45 million MT for 2020 from 1.585 million MT in 2019.

“Global production is forecast seven percent lower year-over-year, largely due to reduced output in China, Vietnam, and Philippines, all countries affected by ASF,” said the USDA.

The Department of Agriculture (DA) reported they culled a total of 251,450 since the ASF outbreak started in August 2019. However, the hog industry is claiming that more pigs have been slaughtered than what the DA reported.

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Also read: 900 ASF infected pigs culled in Bulacan

Philippines to import 280K metric tons of pork this year

Pork meat consumption also decreased by four percent to 1.729 million MT from 1.806 million MT as consumers opted to eat chicken meat.

The country will also increase its chicken meat imports by one percent to 370,000 MT from last year’s 366,000 MT. Local production, which will only increase by 10 percent to 1.6 million MT, will not be able to meet additional domestic consumption of 1.89 million MT.

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The chicken meat import projection for 2020 is lowered than 2019’s 390,000 MT because of the possible delays in shipment and supply disruptions due to the pandemic coronavirus disease.

The poultry industry has reported sufficient stocks of imported and local chicken in cold storage facilities because of the lower demands related to COVID-19 brought by the closure of quick-service restaurants and fast-food chains.

Meanwhile, global production will dip seven percent to 94.3 million MT on lowered expectations for China, where the industry struggles to recover from ASF.

The global production for chicken meat will increase by 1.5 percent to reach 100.5 million MT. The worldwide consumption will also increase at the same time.

USDA said, “chicken meat demand is expected to be more resilient when faced with economic turmoil due to its position as a low-cost, versatile animal protein culturally acceptable in virtually all markets.”

It also said the global chicken exports in 2021 could reach 11.7 million MT.