MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines elevated its meat imports by virtually 50 p.c in January, as merchants purchased extra pork, rooster and beef from overseas on the again of the continued unfold of animal illnesses right here.
Abroad meat purchases totaled 137.999 million kilograms as of January from 92.02 million kg recorded in the identical month a yr in the past, primarily based on information from the Bureau of Animal Trade (BAI).
Vital will increase within the purchases of imported pork, rooster and beef drove meat imports through the interval.
READ: PH imported 20.8% extra pork, beef in 2024
Pork alone accounted for greater than half of the general quantity, holding a share of 51.05 p.c. The amount of imported pork, largely pork cuts and offals, totaled 70.5 million kg, rising by 65.3 p.c.
Hen was a distant second with 33.06 p.c, or 45.63 million kg, of the entire. It was 48.2 p.c larger than final yr.
Importers largely bought mechanically deboned rooster or mechanically separated meat, that are utilized in manufacturing numerous meals merchandise similar to hotdogs, patties and sausages.
Beef was third with a share of 14.4 p.c or 19.9 million kg, rising by virtually 51 p.c.
The nation additionally purchased buffalo (1.93 million kg), lamb (65,249 kg), duck (18,544 kg) and turkey (7,500 kg) in January.
Brazil stays the main supply of imported meat with a market share of 40.13 p.c. The US got here subsequent with 16.5 p.c and Spain, 10.7 p.c.
Underneath Government Order No. 62, the tariff fee on swine, contemporary, chilled or frozen meat was retained at 15 p.c for in-quota and 25 p.c for out-quota cargo.
However, the import responsibility on mechanically deboned or separated meat of rooster and turkey was set at 5 p.c.
The Philippines continues to grapple with hen flu and African swine fever (ASF).
Though the nation just isn’t but freed from avian influenza, the BAI famous that no optimistic instances have been recorded as of March 7.
The bureau has not recorded ongoing instances with the completion of culling or depopulation and surveillance actions inside the 1-kilometer radius in beforehand reported instances.
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However, the BAI stated the nation had energetic ASF instances in 18 provinces and eight areas as of Feb. 28.
