Affected by African swine fever, pork prices may increase to 60,000 VND/kg

Pork is scarce, prices increase sharply

According to PV, on the morning of August 23, in the Northern localities, the price of live pigs for slaughter continued to increase sharply, fluctuating around 45,000-50,000 VND/kg. For example, the price of live pigs for slaughter in Ha Nam and Ninh Binh increased to 46,000 VND/kg, while in Hai Duong and Hung Yen, the price reached 48,000-49,000 VND/kg. In some places, the price of pigs reached 50,000-52,000 VND/kg.

Meanwhile, in the Central provinces such as Thanh Hoa, Nghe An, Ha Tinh,... the price of pigs is also commonly at 45,000-46,000 VND/kg; Thua Thien - Hue, Quang Binh, Quang Tri, the price of live pigs is 41,000-42,000 VND/kg; only in Binh Dinh, Quang Ngai the price is lower, but has also increased to 35,000-36,000 VND/kg.

In the South, the price of live pigs continues to increase sharply. Compared to August 22, the price of live pigs in many provinces and cities increased by about 3,000 VND/kg. Specifically, the price of live pigs in Soc Trang and Bac Lieu increased by 3,000 VND/kg to 37,000 VND/kg; in Binh Duong, Tien Giang, Hau Giang, and Ben Tre, the price has reached 39,000-40,000 VND/kg.

Many places are buying live pigs to export to China.

Mr. Nguyen Van Tan, a trader specializing in buying pigs for sale in the Northern region, admitted that in recent days, the price of live pigs has been increasing sharply, while the supply is increasingly scarce due to the impact of African swine fever.

“Currently, live pigs in the South are being shipped to the North for consumption. Because the price in the North is quite expensive, while pork in the South is cheaper by nearly 8,000-10,000 VND/kg of live pigs sold,” said Mr. Tuan.

At the pork wholesale market in Ha Nam, many traders also said that live pigs in the North are being purchased for export to China.

Previously, sharing with PV. VietNamNet, Mr. Nguyen Van Duy - a trader specializing in purchasing pork in Lang Son, said that this time he increased the purchase of live pigs to export to China. Although the amount of pork exported to China is not much, but this time their traders also purchased both live pigs and pork pieces.

The reason is that China is suffering from African swine fever, many pigs are being culled, leading to a shortage of supply and record high prices. When there is a "hunger for goods", the price of Vietnamese live pigs is cheaper, so China is buying Vietnamese pork.

At the end of the year, there will be a shortage of 0.5 million tons, will the price of pork increase to 60,000 VND/kg?

The Department of Animal Health (Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development) said that African swine fever is still very complicated and shows no signs of stopping. Currently, about 4 million pigs have been destroyed due to this disease.

According to statistics from the Ministry of Industry and Trade, in the first 10 days of August 2019, the price of live pigs nationwide continued to increase due to the shortage of pork supply due to African swine fever. In addition, many households still do not dare to re-raise their herds because they are worried about the potential risk of re-infection while the cost of raising pigs is high.

It is forecasted that there will be a shortage of about 0.5 million tons of pork by the end of the year, especially during the Lunar New Year.

Pork prices in Vietnam are forecast to increase sharply in the last 6 months of 2019, especially during the Lunar New Year.

A market research firm predicts that by the end of 2019, Vietnam may be short of 0.5 million tons of pork, equivalent to 20% of demand. Accordingly, the price of live pigs will increase in the coming time due to a significant decrease in supply.

Mr. Nguyen Tat Thang - General Secretary of the Vietnam Animal Husbandry Association, said that among food products, pork consumption accounted for 65% at its peak. When African swine fever broke out, this ratio shifted to poultry meat and other products. This typically happened in April and May. Currently, consumption has returned to normal.

The number of pigs culled due to African swine fever is currently at an extremely high level, while the ability of pig farms to rebuild their herds is limited. Pork supply is showing a downward trend compared to last year.

“It is forecasted that from now until the end of the year, especially at the end of the year, prices will continue to increase. Currently, with the selling price of live pigs at around 40,000 VND/kg, farmers are making a profit. The price of live pigs has peaked at 58,000 VND/kg. I think that in the coming time, the price may exceed this peak to over 60,000 VND/kg,” Mr. Thang commented.