The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) revised upwards its projection of the Philippines’ hog production for next year on increased herd repopulation efforts from commercial hog raisers.
In a report dated December 10, the USDA said hog production next year is projected to reach 1.03 million metric tons (MT) slightly higher than the previous forecast of 1 million MT.
USDA, however, maintained its projection for chicken production at 1.36 million MT for 2022.
The USDA made these projections as new African swine fever outbreaks were recorded in Cotabato and other southern parts of the country.
Based on data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), total pork production declined 23.4 percent in the first nine months of the year to 872,153 MT compared with 1.14 million MT in the same period in 2020.
Alongside the revised production numbers, the USDA adjusted its projected total pork consumption in the Philippines upward to 1.4 million MT next year from the previous projection of 1.37 million MT.
However, the USDA said next year’s pork consumption will be a decrease from this year’s estimated 1.46 million MT as the expiry of the minimum access volume and reversion of tariffs on pork may push prices and constrain supply.
Meanwhile, the USDA maintained its projection on chicken production in the country next year at 1.36 million MT from this year’s 1.33 million MT.
As of first nine months of the year, PSA said local chicken production was down 4.8 percent to 971,656 MT from 1.02 million MT in the same period in 2020.
The USDA sees a slightly higher consumption of chicken next year at 1.76 million MT from this year’s 1.75 million MT due to the further opening of the economy as well as the resumption of local tourism and reopening of hotels, restaurants and other institutions.
Based on DA’s monitoring of 12 public markets as of Friday, the prevailing price of whole chicken was at P180 per kilogram (kg); liempo at P360 per kg and kasim at P330 per kg.
