Meat imports in April proved buoyant but fish catch across reporting fish ports across the country disappoint.
According to the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI), the Philippines imported 90.5 million kilograms (kg) of meat during the month, up 3.8 percent from a year earlier of only 87.2 million kg.
Pork formed the bulk of imports at 48.87 million kg or 54 percent of all meat purchased overseas. This was 3 percent higher compared to the year-ago pork imports of 47.48 million kg.
Chicken totaled 28.55 million kg or 31.5 percent of meat imports, up 17.6 percent or 24.27 million kg. in April.
The BAI said beef imports in April totaled 9.1 million kg. or 10 percent of all meat imports. This was 12.5 percent lower than only 10.4 million kg of beef imports in April last year.
The Philippines also imported 3.84 million kg of buffalo during the period, a 21.6 percent drop from April 2022’s 4.9 million kg while turkey imports jumped 1,593 percent to 2,150 kg from 127 kg in April last year.
Lamb imports in April this year also totaled 89,985 kg, a 19 percent decline from year-ago imports of 111,136 kg while duck imports were at 24,914 kg against zero duck meat imports last year.
Fish catch across all regional fish ports showed a 3.5 percent drop in April this year, according to the Philippine Fisheries Development Authority (PFDA).
It said fish during the month totaled only 44,721.05 metric tons (MT) compared with the year-ago catch totaling 46,353.97 MT.
This was also 4.7 percent lower compared to 46,935.07 MT caught in the same month last year due to warmer than normal temperature in waters that force fish to seek shelter elsewhere.
The reporting fish ports include Bulan in Sorsogon, Sual in Pangasinan, General Santos, Davao, Zamboanga, Lucena in Quezon Province, Iloilo, and Navotas.
Department of Agriculture monitoring of public markets in the National Capital Region show retail meat ranging from P395 to 550 for beef rump; P350 to 440 for beef brisket; P300 to P360 for pork kasim; P340 to P400 for pork liempo; P150 to P240 for milkfish; P110 to P160 for tilapia; P180 to P260 for local galunggong; P180 for imported galunggong and P280 for alumahan.
Dressed chicken retail from P150 to P200 per kg.
