CPF sees no impact from African swine fever
Prasit Boondoungprasert, Charoen Pokphand Foods Pcl (CPF)'s Chief Executive Officer, has ruled out any impact on the company's sales target from the outbreak of African swine fever (ASF), citing business diversification and the balanced proportion of meat products.
Meanwhile, CPF has witnessed an increase in chicken exports to China both in terms of sale volume and prices, he added.
CPF has invested in 16 countries with its business in Thailand generating only 28 per cent of total sale value. Chicken and pork available in the Thai market are of similar proportion, sitting above chicken eggs, ducks, sausages and ready-to-eat products. Pork prices have declined recently mainly due to seasonally weak demand and the dumping of pork supplies on concerns about ASF, but the current prices are still above production cost.
Meanwhile, chicken prices have been rising due to greater export demand, particularly from China. As the country experiences pork shortage with more consumers switching to chicken, prices are increasing.
The swine fever outbreak in China and Vietnam and the spread to a neighboring country has raised concerns about its possible arrival in Thailand.
All producers in Thailand have imposed strict bio-security systems, Prasit assured, adding that CPF itself has continuously exercised security measures and cooperated with the Department of Livestock Development in alerting farmers of security measures for efficient prevention of diseases.