Pig prices skyrocket, Nghe An farmers 'hoard goods' waiting for Tet

Pork prices continue to increase

Meat prices have now increased by 40,000 - 50,000 VND/kg compared to early September. Photo: Thanh Phuc

Up to now, the price of live pigs has reached 80,000 VND/kg, so the price of pork in the markets has also increased: Pork belly 120,000 - 130,000 VND/kg; lean shoulder and lean rump meat cost 130,000 - 150,000 VND/kg.

A butcher at Vinh market said: “The price of live pigs has increased, forcing the price of meat to increase as well. It is very difficult for us to buy live pigs for slaughter, most of us have to buy pigs from slaughterhouses.”

Not only in the city, but also in rural areas, the price of live pigs has increased. In early September, the price of live pigs reached 60,000 VND/kg, and now it has reached a new price of 75,000 - 80,000 VND/kg. However, farmers are still not selling their pigs because they have not reached the right weight and some households want to save them to sell during Tet.

The price of meat in clean food stores and supermarkets is 5,000 - 20,000 VND/kg higher than the price of meat in the market (depending on the type). Mr. Ho Van The, who runs a clean food store chain in Vinh city, said: "Since the beginning of September, the pork supplier for the store has adjusted the price 5 times. Currently, the price of pork imported to the store has fluctuated from 100,000 - 110,000 VND/kg. Therefore, the store has had to adjust the price of meat 3 times, accepting to sell it under the price stabilization form to keep customers."

According to analysis, the reason for the increase in pork prices is due to limited supply, partly due to the impact of African swine fever, and partly due to the psychology of seeing pork prices increase so people are not in a hurry to sell their pigs. Meanwhile, small pork traders do not have access to large suppliers of live pigs such as companies and farms, but are completely dependent on the supply of household farms.

No shortage of pork during Lunar New Year

Up to now, at a farm in Nghi Van commune (Nghi Loc) with 200 sows and 4,000 pigs for meat, the situation is still safe from African swine fever. Accordingly, the supply of pork for Tet is still guaranteed for the customers who have placed orders. The owner of this farm said: "Compared to last year, the total number of pigs sold for Tet this year is expected to not decrease much. The farm has prepared a stable supply for traders and stores that have signed contracts. However, the price of pork has increased compared to before."

According to the forecast of the Ministry of Industry and Trade, the supply of pork during the 2020 Lunar New Year is still guaranteed. In addition, alternative foods for pork such as poultry, poultry eggs, buffalo and beef are quite abundant. Photo: Thanh Phuc

According to calculations by the Department of Industry and Trade, during the 2020 Lunar New Year, pork consumption increased by about 20% compared to normal days. According to a survey, the total pig herd in localities is currently 917,668 (excluding piglets that have not been weaned), down 9.84% compared to the same period in 2018.

Mr. Tran Vo Ba, Head of the Department of Disease Management and Animal Husbandry, Department of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Medicine, said: "The supply of pork among the people has decreased a lot compared to before. However, if we balance between household farming and farms, and connect with large livestock companies and enterprises, there will still be enough pork to supply the market in the province from now until Tet."

On the other hand, currently, the African swine fever has “cooled down”, from the second half of October until now, the number of pigs culled is insignificant, many localities have announced the end of the epidemic. In addition, the export of small-scale pigs to China has been tightened, food companies and large farms have also prepared plans to prepare live pigs for the Tet market; traders, food stores and supermarkets have also found sources to place orders to serve the Lunar New Year. Therefore, the supply of pork will not be lacking, but prices will increase compared to the present time.

The supply of live pigs for the Lunar New Year is still guaranteed, however the price will be higher than at present. Photo: Thanh Phuc

Other alternative foods such as buffalo, cows, goats, chickens, etc. are quite diverse. Many livestock households, after being attacked by the epidemic and having to destroy pigs, have renovated their barns and disinfected them to raise fattened buffaloes, cows, chickens, goats, etc., so the supply can be stable.