Meat imports rise in May based on latest data from the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI).
The BAI reported the Philippines importing 122.31 million kilograms (kg) of meat, up 10.27 percent from a year ago of only 110.92 million kg.
Pork made up the bulk of meat imports at 65.51 million kg or 53.56 percent of all meat for the period. This was 1.24 percent higher compared to May 2022 pork imports of 64.71 million kg.
Chicken followed with 41.33 million kg or 33.8 percent of total meat imports, up 45.9 percent from only 28.33 million kg in May last year.
The BAI report also showed beef imports in May this year totaling 10.94 million kg or 8.9 percent of meat imports, 27.6 percent lower than only 15.12 million kg in May 2022.
The Philippines also imported 4.36 million kg of buffalo meat, a 65.8 percent jump from a year-ago of only 2.63 million kg.
There were no turkey meat imports this year versus last year’s 27,500 kg.
Lamb imports totaled 153,564 kg, a 48.7 percent surge from last year’s 103,271 kg as duck imports totaled another 12,122 against last year’s 3,200 kg equivalent to an uptick of 278.8 percent.
Bantay Presyo monitoring by the DA in select markets in Metro Manila show the price of pork kasim from P280 to P340 per kg; pork liempo at P310 to P390 per kg; whole dressed chicken at P150 to P200 per kg; beef rump at P390 to P550 per kg and beef brisket at P350 to P430 per kg.
