April 21, 2011

 

Thailand's pork exports to stay

 

 

The Thai government might have lengthened the present ban on egg exports until October to stop local shortages from taking place but it has decided not to implement a prohibition on pork exports.

 

The government wants exporters to suspend egg exports until October in order to reduce the risk of a local shortage, according to Vatchari Vimooktayon, the director-general of the Internal Trade Department.

 

The media reported earlier this week that Commerce Minister, Porntiva Nakasai, proposed freezing egg exports until August.

 

However, Vatchari said that besides the hot weather and southern floods, disease outbreaks have killed off a number of layers at farms in Chon Buri, Chachoengsao and Ayutthaya provinces.

 

She is confident that supply will be sufficient to meet domestic demand by October.

 

Exporters who have already secured orders will be allowed to follow through on their exports.

 

Narong Jiemjaibunjong, honorary president of the Hen-Egg Farmers, Traders and Exporters Association, said foreign purchasing orders were low at only six million eggs a month, mostly to Hong Kong, Africa and the Middle East. This represents a decline from 20 million a month in previous years.

 

Meanwhile, Vatchari said an export ban on pork, the price of which has also been rising, would not be necessary.

 

A temporary suspension of pork exports was suggested earlier, according to the media, but the director-general said that while supply has dropped in line with the rising domestic price, Thailand exported only 12,000 tonnes last year.

 

Swine breeders have agreed to maintain the price at THB135-140/kg (US$4.52-4.69) for the next three months. Turbulent weather and disease are being blamed for the supply decline.

 

Vatchari said 38,000 pigs were now slaughtered each day, down by 20% from normal levels. Twelve million pigs are raised each year.

 

The Internal Trade Department will also organise a Blue Flag campaign to sell pork for THB110/kg (US$3.68) at fresh markets under its purview. Under the same programme, one million eggs will be sent to markets nationwide each day for the next three months.