The price of live hog fell to 92,000-95,000 dong ($3.95-$4.08) per kg in Vietnam’s northern region and to 88,000-93,000 dong per kg in the central and southern regions. VIETNAM NEWS AGENCY/VIET NAM NEWS
The price of live hog in the Vietnamese market decreased recently after the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development allowed imports of pigs from Thailand.
In the northern region, the price of live hog fell slightly by between 1,000-3,000 dong (4.29-12.88 US cents) per kg to 92,000-95,000 dong ($3.95-$4.08). Meanwhile, the prices in the central and southern regions were down to 88,000-93,000 dong per kg.
Nguyen Van Trong, deputy director of the ministry’s Department of Livestock Breeding, said the price of live pigs will drop further in the near future.
Trong said there are many businesses registering to import live pigs, some of them have registered imports of between 100,000-200,000 pigs.
Insiders said that the price of live pigs imported from Thailand is about 50,000 dong per kg, but it will increase because the transport of live pigs must go via Cambodia and Laos.
Nguyen Dinh Bich, an expert in research and analysis of Vietnam’s agricultural market, told local media that the import of live pigs will meet the increasing demand of Vietnamese consumers and pulling down the price of domestic pork.
Bich said: “Frozen pork is mainly used for food processing and serving meals for workers, while fresh pork is always used in the family meal.”
In addition, he said due to fears of African swine fever recurrence, many farm owners sold pigs sooner than the expected time, making the price drop.
Bich said: “The sale of pigs increased the supply of pork in the country. However, it is only positive news at the present time. In the long run, the market will still lack pork.”
He said although the price of live pigs dropped sharply in recent days, the price of pork at traditional markets and supermarkets still remained high at between 170,000-230,000 dong per kg.
At an online conference held between Vietnam Department of Animal Health and Thailand Livestock Development Department last week, the two sides discussed and agreed procedures and conditions to import live pigs from Thailand. The pigs will be slaughtered in Vietnam.
The two sides also agreed detailed provisions on veterinary hygiene requirements, quarantine procedures and quarantine certificates for pigs from Thailand.
The price of pork began fluctuating early last year as Vietnam was facing the outbreak of African swine fever.
Under the government’s direction on reducing the price of live pigs to 60,000 dong per kg for stability in the domestic market during the Covid-19 pandemic, 15 major livestock enterprises has committed to join the price stabilisation programme for several months. However, the price of pork is not yet controlled.
VIET NAM NEWS/ASIA NEWS NETWORK
