Meat imports to breach 2023 record

The country would have imported meat imports exceeding the volume and value achieved in 2023 because of animal diseases and bad weather that crimped domestic output.

The Meat Importers and Traders Association (MITA) cited import figures from the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI)  as of September 30 where imported meat rose by 12.65 percent to 1.04 million metric tons (MMT) from 923,160 metric tons (MT) a year ago. 

“Meat importation breached 1 million metric tons in September, which indicates that the Philippines will break last year’s record-high of 1.2 MMT,” MITA President Emeritus Jesus Cham told Business Mirror.

BAI data showed the country importing 1.2 billion kilograms of meat in 2023, nearly half of that volume was pork products.

Cham immediately dashed consumers’ expectations by saying that shipments would not automatically lead to reduced prices as the stocks could be kept in ports because of congestion and the impact of weak peso on prices.

“The record-high importation is worrisome as signs of port congestion are appearing.”

Cham also said the depreciation of the peso could increase the landed cost of imported meat products.

The successive typhoons have hurt demand and consumption and importers may not be able to raise prices enough to cover the added costs, Cham said.

BAI data showed that chicken imports as of September 30 grew 6.43 percent to 345,860 MT from 324,977 MT. Mechanically deboned meat (MDM) accounted for the bulk of chicken shipments at 195,796 MT. 

“However, turkey MDM jumped tremendously, albeit from a small base. Perhaps some processors have now learned to use it as a raw material,” Cham said.

The imports of turkey MDM stood at 995 MT in the reference period, which showed a significant increase from the 52 MT recorded in 2023. 

Pork shipments accounted for the largest share of the country’s meat imports in January to September as it rose by 12.90 percent to 517,860 MT from the 458,703 MT recorded in the same period last year. 

Cham said the increase in pork imports indicates that the pork shortage will continue despite the arrival of vaccines and inoculation of pigs against African swine fever.

Beef imports registered the biggest jump during the period as shipments surged by 35.01 percent to 144,023 MT from 106,676 MT, the bulk of which consisted of beef cuts at 98,932 MT.

“Beef continued its strong consistent increase, with total imports as of September almost matching the full year of 2023,” Cham said.

“More consumers and users apparently now see beef as a viable alternative to high priced pork and chicken.”