September 22, 2010

Philippine consumer demand shifts from pork to chicken

According to the Philippine Department of Agriculture, the Philippines is experiencing a shift in consumer demand from pork to chicken.

The consumer shift from pork to chicken has brought down pork prices to about PHP160 (US$3.62) to PHP170 (US$3.84) a kilo from PHP180 (US$4.07) to PHP190 US$4.29) a kilo in the first half of this year, the DA Assistant Secretary Salvador Salacup stated.

"There is a close shifting pattern between pork and chicken, where Filipinos tend to shift to chicken commodity when pork prices are high, and vice-versa. Since chicken prices are much lower for now, Filipinos tend to favour broilers, resulting to lower prices in swine products," Salacup said.

Reports suggest that poultry raisers and market vendors have agreed on a standard reference price of PHP100 (US$2.28) per kilogramme for unbranded dressed chicken and PHP110 (US$2.51) for branded chicken.