The price of EU pork exports to the Philippines experienced an increase in the first four months of 28% for the swine meat and 35% for offal.

As a result, the volume exported to the Philippines decreased 49% and 29% respectively from January to April compared with a year earlier.

The drop in export value was of 35% for the swine meat and 4% for offal.

As it happened with the whole of European Union, Spain prices also increased. Swine meat increased +23% (compared with +28% for the EU), while offal price of Spain increased the most, +45% (compared with +35% for the EU). [1]

As a result, the volume exported by Spain to the Philippines decreased 61% and 18% respectively from January to April compared with a year earlier.

In 2023 so far, Spain exports of offal represent 52% of EU offal exports to the Philippines. One year ago, the percentage was 45%. However, for swine meat, the first four months indicate the share of Spain in EU swine meat exports decreased down to 43% from 56% a year earlier.

Given the prevailing uncertainty in the Philippines regarding both the level of consumer demand for pork and the progress of ASF, the forthcoming participation of the EU PORK The Smart Choice campaign in the country’s most prominent agrifood exhibition [2] in early August 2023 presents an ideal opportunity to gauge the prevailing sentiment. This strategic move aims to gain firsthand insights into the prevailing circumstances. It will not only facilitate the promotion of EU pork, specifically from Spain and Portugal but also enable a thorough exploration of visitors’ perspectives on the prospects of pork imports through interactions at the EU PORK The Smart Choice booth.

Finally, despite the comprehensive approach that the government of the Philippines is adopting in its fight against ASF, recent news reveals the significant impact on the swine inventory. For instance, the chief veterinary of Iloilo province reported [3] in May, that the inventory has dropped by 62 percent compared to the pre-ASF population. The current concern revolves around the orderly recovery of the previous swine population. Although the guidelines set forth by the Department of Agriculture continue to restrict hog raisers from initiating repopulation efforts, there are reports of raisers in infected areas who have already resumed swine farming activities.

[1] EUROSTAT
[2] www.wofex.com
[3] Iloilo hogs inventory drops 62 percent due to ASF | Philippine News Agency (pna.gov.ph)