April 23, 2008

Expensive Polish pork to drive sector into deeper crisis
 

Polish pork has become more expensive compared to Western Europe, and that could compromise the domestic pork industry as consumers could switch to buying the cheaper imported pork.

In 2007, imports exceeded that of exports due to high pork prices.

The situation could worsen this year, according to Dariusz Nowakowski, CEO of Grupa Animex, Poland's largest meat processor.

Polish pork prices are much higher than in the EU, the US and Brazil, said Nowakowski.

The situation could be alleviated if Poland agrees to use GMO feed. A ban on GMO elements in feed could be implemented in this August, which would threaten the Polish pork sector as it would cause rising meat prices and increased imports, said Nowakowski.

However, the minister of agriculture, Marek Sawicki, has promised to levy the ban.

Nowakowski opined that Polish pork could benefit if it follows the example of Denmark, which has become a giant pork producer and exporter in the last thirty years.

If Poland copies that formula, Polish pork could become more competitive and prices would fall, said Nowakowski.