'Despite' African swine fever, pork prices are rising sharply

This week, the price of live pigs in the North and South has been fluctuating continuously, increasing by 5,000 - 10,000 VND compared to last week. Notably, in the last 2 days in the North, the price of pigs has increased by 4,000 VND per kg.

In Thai Nguyen and Hai Duong, the price of live pigs is around 43,000 - 44,000 VND per kg; Ninh Binh and Hung Yen increased by 2,000 VND to 42,000 - 44,000 VND per kg; Vinh Phuc, Yen Bai, Lao Cai, Hanoi and Ha Nam are at 41,000 VND.

The number of live pigs has been increasing rapidly recently. Photo courtesy of Xuan Hoang

Following the North, pork prices in the South also skyrocketed from 30,000 - 31,000 VND per kg last week to 35,000 - 36,000 VND.

His exchangeNguyen Xuan Duong, acting director of the Department of Animal Husbandry (Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development), said that African swine fever has damaged over 15% of the country's pig herd. Meanwhile, since mid-August, demand for food has increased, so establishments and traders have competed to buy, pushing up pork prices.

Mr. Duong predicts that by early September, the price of live pigs will increase to over 45,000 VND per kilogram and will increase sharply at the end of the year. Regarding the information that traders are purchasing goods to sell to China, Mr. Duong said that it is not true because China has tightened its purchase of Vietnamese pigs since 2017 until now.

To avoid shortages and high prices, Mr. Duong said the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development has directed businesses and households in areas that have not been affected by swine fever to increase herd restoration. In addition, the Ministry has also directed poultry farming and processing businesses to increase supplies to replace pork if there is a shortage./.