April 17, 2023

 

Philippines meat imports up in Q1 2023 

 

Data from the Philippines' Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) showed that meat imports into the country increased slightly in the first quarter, as the Philippines purchased more pork and chicken from abroad in March, The Philippine Star reported.

 

The country imported 265.5 million kg of meat between January to March 2023, up 1.03% from the previous year's figure of 262.8 million kg.

 

Imported meat totaled 99.4 million kg in March, up from 89.6 million kg in February and 76.5 million kg in January, continuing a three-month upward trend.

 

Pork topped the list with 114.8 million kg, accounting for nearly half of the total (43.2%), making it the main driver of meat imports. It has been rising for the past three months.

 

More than two-thirds of imported meat was made up of offal at 58.3 million kg and pork cuts at 26.6 million kg.

 

Chicken came in second with 102.7 million kg, accounting for 38.7% of the market. Chicken, like pork, has maintained its upward trend.

 

Mechanically deboned or mechanically separated chicken accounted for 54.1 million kg of imported chicken, followed by chicken leg quarters with 30.2 million kg.

 

Beef came in third place with 33.1 million kg, or a 12.5 percent share, with beef cuts accounting for nearly 20 million kg.

 

Unlike pork and chicken, the amount of imported beef to the Philippines has decreased since the beginning of this year.

 

With 79.9 million kg, Brazil maintained its position as the leading source of meat and meat products for the Philippines. The vast majority of these imports are chicken and pork.

 

The US came in second with 48.2 million kg, primarily chicken and pork imports, while Spain came in third with 33.4 million kg, primarily pork imports.

 

During the reference period, the top pork exporters were Spain, Canada, and Spain. In the case of chicken, Brazil was first, followed by the US.

 

Because of high international pork prices and lower demand, the US Department of Agriculture reduced its projection for this year's pork imports to 525,000 metric tonnes (mt) from 559,777 mt in 2022.

 

Similarly, the foreign agency increased its forecast for chicken imports to 520,000 mt from 497,000 mt previously due to rising demand amid local cases of African swine fever and bird flu.

 

-      The Philippine Inquirer