Pork prices to go up in ‘ber’ months

Consumers should expect high pork prices at the onset of “ber” months when demand seasonally increases, coupled with lower production following the rainy months.

From an average farm-gate price of P190 per kilo, local pork’s farm-gate price might increase to P230 per kilo, which could bring its retail price to about P350 per kilo, according to the Pork Producers Federation of the Philippines.

"‘Ber’ months na, of course, tataas na ulit ang mamimili ng local [pork] so expected na tataas na rin ang farm-gate price,” the group's president, Eric Harina, said in an interview on Super Radyo dzBB. 

Meanwhile, Harina also emphasized that even though the current farm-gate price of pork is low, the retail price still ranges higher at P330 per kilo to as much as P380 per kilo.

He said that one of the reasons is "weak production" due to the continuous African Swine Fever problem, as the industry still awaits the commercial availability of an anti-ASF vaccine.

Harina further said the rainy months of July to August also added to the weaker production, as pigs usually get sick during this season.

“Last year 2024, nasa 8.7 million, ngayon nasa 8.8 million barely 100,000 increase… mahina ang produksyon,” he said.

Also adding to the burden of local swine farmers is the competition with imported pork, which is cheaper compared to local products.

“Ang imported nasa P240 to P300 per kilo… ‘Yung local napansin namin na matumal dahil mas mura ang imported ngayon,” Harina said.

The pork producers group chief suggested the removal of the middleman system and the efficient facilitation of the farm-to-market or retailer system. —Ted Cordero/ VAL, GMA Integrated News