January 3, 2020

Vientiane closely monitoring rising pork prices

Vientiane authorities in Laos' capital are carefully monitoring the price of pork after it rose above the government's set price, The Phnom Penh Post reported.

The Vientiane Industry and Commerce Department had announced that vendors should sell pork for 36,000 kip (~US$4.06; 1 kip = 0.00011) per kilogram but merchants are now selling it for more than 40,000 kip, with prices varying across the city's markets.

The impact of this differential is being assessed through information being collected from swine suppliers, middle-men and vendors. A detailed report is expected to be received by Vientiane authorities in the near future, according to a department official. The report will then be submitted to the government so that a solution can be found.

Prices of pork purchased from Vietnam, Thailand and China are also increasing.

A Vientiane vendor told Vientiane Times she sells pork for 45,000 kip per kilogram because she has to buy it at a high price.

Major pork suppliers in Vientiane such as CP Laos Co, Ltd and Betagro Laos said they were still supplying sufficient pigs and pork to the market, according to authorities.

The first ASF cases occurred in Saravan province, while many swine farms were also affected by flooding, according to the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry.