May 8, 2018

 

Philippines' meat imports rise 23.86% in first 2 months

 

 

The Philippines' growing reliance on imported meat is reflected in the 23.86% import growth recorded in the first two months.

 

According to the latest data from the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI), the country's meat imports in January-February increased to 106,884.521 tonnes from last year's 86,293.071 tonnes, BusinessMirror reported.

 

Of the total meat purchase in the two-month period, almost half, or 46.87%, was pork.

 

Pork imports during the period increased 24.28% to 50,100.395 tonnes from 40,313.422 tonnes in January-February 2017.

 

Chicken imports during the first two months rose almost 27% to 34,040.929 tonne from 26,876.097 tonnes in the same period last year. Chicken meat accounted for 31.85% of the country's total meat imports.

 

Buffalo and turkey meat, beef imports

 

Imported buffalo meat rose 84.54% to 6,974.402 tonnes from 3,779.36 tonnes last year.

 

Beef imports during the two-month period grew 3.55% year-on-year to 15,512.176 tonnes from 15,126.382 tonnes.

 

Turkey-meat imports in January-February increased 116.79% to 173.998 tonnes from last year's 80.261, the fastest growth rate among all imported meats.

 

Lamb-meat imports in the first two months declined 27.02% to 82.621 tonnes from 113.206 tonnes in the same period last year.

 

In 2017, the Philippines' meat imports increased nearly 7% to a record-high 691,462.564 tonnes from 646,503.7 tonnes in 2016.

 

Philippines among top buyers of pork, poultry products

 

It was earlier reported that the country's frozen-pork inventory as of Feb. 20 consisted mostly of imports at 21,024.58 tonnes. Locally produced pork in cold storages totalled only 1,133.44 tonnes.

 

The Philippines was the eighth-largest pig-product importer in the world last year (January-November), according to data from the European Commission.

 

It was also the sixth-largest importer of poultry products last year (January-December).

 

BAI Assistant Director Simeon S. Amurao Jr. said meat imports are increasing because of the increasing need of meat processors for "cheap" raw materials from abroad. 

 

Meat Importers and Traders Association President Jesus C. Cham said international pork prices were generally low, allowing meat processors and traders to import more.