Pork prices rise sharply in the region due to ASF
The price of live pigs and pork has risen sharply now that the quantity of pigs has dropped due to the African swine fever (ASF), Wiwat Pongwiwatchai, vice president of the Swine Raisers Association of Thailand, said on Wednesday (May 27).
He said the price of live pigs in China had risen to Bt136 per kilo as supplies had dropped by approximately 300 million from the previous year. China can normally produce 500 million pigs yearly.
“In April, China imported about 400,000 tonnes of pork, up 170 per cent year on year,” he said.
He added that the price of live pigs in Vietnam has risen to Bt120 per kilo, the highest in 20 years as the quantity of pigs has dropped by 25 per cent. Pork accounts for 3/4th of meat consumption in Vietnam.
“Vietnam imported 300 per cent more pork compared to the previous year,” he said. “In the first four months, almost 70 per cent of the pork being sold in Vietnam was imported. The price of live pigs in Cambodia has risen to Bt96 per kg.”
Wiwat added that China is likely to import more pigs to support domestic consumption, especially since the Covid-19 situation is getting better and many countries are easing their restrictions.
“This is the right time for Vietnam to export pork to China across the border,” he said.
He added that the farm price of live pigs in Thailand was between Bt66 and Bt71 per kilo, the cheapest in the region because there have been no cases of ASF in the country.