The Philippines imported 122.74 million kilograms of meat in April, a 35.6 percent jump from year-ago imports of 90.5 million kilos.
Pork made up the bulk of imports in April at 64.64 million kilos or 52.7 percent of all meat imported during the period. This was also 32.3 percent higher compared to year ago pork imports of 48.87 million kilos.
Chicken meat imports were next biggest at 37.43 million kilos or 30.5 percent of all meat imports. This was up 31 percent or only 28.55 million kilos in April last year.
Beef imports in April 2024 total 16.21 million kilos or 13 percent of all meat imports. This was 78 percent more than the 9.1 million kilos of beef imported in April 2023.
The Philippines also imported 4.23 million kilos of buffalo meat, a 10.16 percent increase from April 2023’s 3.84 million kilos as turkey imports jumped by 8,000 percent to 175,800 kilos from 2,150 kilos in April 2023.
Lamb imports in April this year total 45,267 kilos, a 49.7 percent decline from a year ago. Duck imports total only 18,002 kilos or a a drop of 27.7 percent.
“Importers are likely positioning in anticipation of higher prices abroad, a weaker peso, as well as lower hog production due to El Niño. It is noteworthy that offal volume decreased, perhaps indicating greater attractiveness of pork meat at the current import duty rate,” Jess Cham, president emeritus of the Meat Importers and Traders Association, said.
