DA: Pork prices drop by P15/kilo

MANILA, Philippines — The retail price of pork dropped by P15 per kilo from as high as P410 per kilo, with the highest cost recorded at P395 per kilo, according to the Department of Agriculture (DA).

Based on the price monitoring of the DA in Metro Manila markets yesterday, the retail prices of pork belly or liempo ranged between P330 and P395 per kilo while pork shoulder or kasim ranged between P295 and P350 per kilo.

It went down by P15 per kilo compared to the retail price monitored on Wednesday, May 24, when the highest price of pork liempo was still P410 per kilo at the Malabon Central Market in Malabon City.

Philippine Pork Producers Federation president Nonon Tambago attributed the decline in the pork prices to the increase in the pork supply in the market.

“We have a lot of supplies from the Visayas now, as Cebu and Negros have a lot of surplus which we are supplying to Luzon,” Tambago said in text message to The STAR.

Tambago has said that the farmgate price declined to P215 per kilo.

On the other hand, imported frozen pork products continue to flood the market as at least 163.7 million kilos of pork were sourced from various countries from January to April 2023.

Based on the latest data from the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI), at least 30.3 million kilos of imported products arrived in January, 39.3 million kilos in February, 45.2 million in March and 48.9 million kilos in April.

The country’s top source of imported pork products was Spain, with 48.2 million kilos, followed by Canada, 23.4 million kilos; Brazil, 19.9 million kilos; the Netherlands, 18.1 million kilos; France, 11.3 million kilos; United Kingdom, 10.1 million kilos; United States, 9.4 million kilos; Denmark, 8.2 million kilos; Ireland, 3.6 million kilos; Australia, 2.2 million kilos and Chile, 1.5 million kilos.

Tambago has criticized the flood of imported frozen pork products, noting that the total importation reached 710 million kilos in 2022.

“It definitely affects us, the importation was really big last year. We are not totally against importation as there is really a supply gap, but the DA should focus on a long-term solution, which is to develop the local production. Self-sufficiency is the way to address the problem in the supply,” he said.

Tambago underscored the need to establish first-border control facilities in the country to address the spread of African swine fever (ASF).

“We need first-border control in Luzon, the Visayas and Mindanao to prevent the entry of transboundary diseases. Second, review the existing protocols and controls of ASF,” he said.

Tambago added that allowing the use of ASF vaccine will also help address the spread of the virus.

“Based on the presentation of BAI, they have a successful trial on ASF vaccine coming from Vietnam. The government should expedite the approval of the importation of the vaccine, as it will definitely help. It’s scientifically proven safe and effective. I am convinced it will help. We support the BAI for the trial and eventual importation of the vaccine,” he said.