April 11, 2012

Philippine frozen meat, chicken higher on-year

The Philippines has more supply of dressed chicken and frozen meat compared with yearago figures, according to the National Meat Inspection Service (NMIS).

For the week ending April 2, NMIS figures showed the inventory of dressed chicken in accredited cold storages reached 8,615 tonnes-almost 65% higher than the yearago figure.

Of the total inventory, the NMIS said that almost one third or 2,289.49 tonnes are imported while the rest is produced locally.

The National Capital Region had the biggest inventory of local and imported dressed chicken. Domestically produced chicken in NCR storages reached 5,483 tonnes while imports reached 1,115.36 tonnes.

Of the existing inventory, NMIS figures showed the bulk or 10,982.56 of frozen meat in cold storages were imported while 1,776 tonnes were produced locally.

The total inventory of frozen meat yearago ending April 4 reached 7,273.86 tonnes. Of this figure, 6,446.34 tonnes were imported while the rest was produced locally.

Based on the Bureau of Agricultural Statistics' monitor of wet markets in Metro Manila, the price of dressed chicken averaged PHP120 (US$2.81) per kilo as of April 3, lower by PHP10 from the prevailing price of PHP130 (US$3.04) per kilo by March 3.

BAS said pork prices remain unchanged based on its April 3 monitor. The prevailing price of pork ham or kasim in Metro Manila was at PHP170 (US$3.98) per kilo while pork liempo was still at PHP180 (US$4.21) per kilo.