Spending 1.2 billion USD to import meat, smuggled goods still flow into Vietnam

Statistics from the General Department of Customs show that in the first 10 months of this year, Vietnam imported nearly 545 thousand tons of meat and meat products, worth 1.21 billion USD. The volume of imported goods decreased by 11.9%, but the value increased by 2.1% compared to the same period in 2021.

Notably, in the first 10 months of 2022, imports of these items from India reached 418.63 million USD, an increase of 51.2% in value over the same period last year.

Photo: Vietnamnet

In particular, in October 2022, meat imports from India increased by more than 114% in volume and nearly 209% in value compared to October 2021, accounting for 20.4% of the total volume of meat and meat products imported into our country in the month.

The average import price of meat and meat products from India was 3,199 USD/ton, up 44.3% compared to October 2021.

Statistics also show that in October 2022, our country mainly imported meat and edible by-products of poultry (group 01.05, fresh, chilled or frozen); fresh, chilled buffalo meat; fresh, chilled or frozen pork; edible by-products of live pigs, buffaloes and cows, chilled or frozen; fresh, chilled or frozen beef...

Of which, pork and poultry imports continued to decrease, while buffalo and beef imports continued to increase sharply compared to the same period last year.

According to calculations from the authorities, the demand for meat and meat products is expected to increase in the coming time due to high demand during the Lunar New Year. However, due to the abundant domestic meat supply, which basically meets domestic consumption demand, the import volume is not expected to increase dramatically.

However, recently, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development had to send documents to many localities requesting them to focus on directing and organizing the prevention of illegal transportation and trading of buffaloes and cows across the border. Recently, the phenomenon of illegal trading and transportation of buffaloes and cows across the Central border into Vietnam has been quite common and complicated, especially at the border with Laos and Cambodia.

According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, the illegal trade and transportation of cattle into our country increases the risk of infection and spread of dangerous diseases such as foot-and-mouth disease, lumpy skin disease; smuggled cattle of unknown origin, possibly fed with products banned for use in livestock farming, not ensuring veterinary hygiene and food safety requirements, potentially seriously affecting the domestic livestock industry and people's health.