April 13, 2020

Philippine 2020 pork output seen at 6-year low due to ASF

The African swine fever (ASF) epidemic may cut Philippine pork output this year to a six-year low of 1.45 million tonnes, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) said in its latest market project report, BusinessMirror reported.

This is a 8.5% decline from last year's 1.585 million tonnes, and a downward revision of the 1.475 million tonnes estimate in January.

The USDA added that "(g)lobal production is forecast 7 percent lower year-over-year, largely due to reduced output in China, Vietnam and the Philippines, all countries affected by ASF," representing a 13-year low of 94.327 million tonnes.

The USDA data also showed that Philippine pork consumption this year could drop by 4.26% to 1.729 million tonnes, the lowest in five years, while imports are expected to rise by 26% to 280,000 tonnes to fill the shortfall in domestic production.

In its eighth follow-up report to the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) last month, the Philippines said it culled 41,953 swine in 69 additional confirmed outbreaks from January to February in Luzon, bringing the country's total cull count to 250,877 head, about 2% of the estimated 12-million swine population.

The number of swine that were susceptible to ASF, as reported by the Philippines to the OIE as of March 26, had risen to 246,918 head.