PORK PRODUCERS said Tuesday that the supply of pork will be sufficient, with the possibility of oversupply, during the yearend holidays, despite an import ban in force against various countries due to African Swine Fever (ASF).
In an interview, Nicanor M. Briones, vice-president for Luzon of the Pork Producers Federations of the Philippines, Inc. (ProPork) and former Representative of the Agricultural Sector Alliance of the Philippines (AGAP) Party-list said: “Many piggeries are expanding because business has been good in the past two years, so I think we will have enough supply.
Mr. Briones said pork prices are currently falling, indicating oversupply conditions.
“Compared with last year’s price which was about P135 per kilo… now it’s P120-P125. For backyard growers it’s P115. Any lower and growers won’t be making money. The reason it’s falling even though it’s nearly December is excess supply. If there were any shortage the price would rise easily by P10 back to around P135,” Mr. Briones said.
Mr. Briones noted that imports of pork from the US and Canada are continuing, offsetting the impact of the import ban on product from China, Latvia, Poland, Romania, Russia, and Ukraine due to ASF.
He said domestic pork producers are looking forward to a demand pickup due to the holidays and after that, the elections.
“The holidays are approaching and so are the elections. People will have a lot of money because of the campaign spending. We can see it starting now,” Mr. Briones said.
“The supply is guaranteed, judging by farmgate prices. For commercial farms, the price is P120 to P125, for backyard farms it’s P115 per kilo,” Mr. Briones said.
He said that imported pork accounts for 11% to 12% of total supply.
The Department of Agriculture (DA), together with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) has started imposing a suggested retail price (SRP) on pork which may change weekly upon review. The SRP for pork is additional P70 to the farmgate price. — Reicelene Joy N. Ignacio

RELATED ARTICLESMORE FROM AUTHOR