January 9, 2007

Thailand has pork oversupply of more than 1 million tonnes

Falling pork prices were due to the oversupply of pork in the kingdom, which has exceeded one million tonnes, according to Thailand's deputy permanent secretary.

Thai annual production is now about 16 million pigs, while demand is 14.5 million to 15 million head, the deputy permanent secretary said.

The Thai Agriculture Ministry would soon appoint members of the Pig Board to assert more control over the market and streamline demand.

The board would register the country's pig breeders and work with breeders associations during the process. These measures would allow authorities a better estimate of the kingdom's output and help regulate the market.

Last year, Thailand exported 10,000 tonnes of boiled pork meat. Frozen pork from Thailand is banned due to incidences of Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD).