The Foreign Agricultural Service of the United States Department of Agriculture has cut its forecast on Philippine pork production for 2023 by 50,000 tons to 925,000 tons as African Swine Fever spreads in the Visayas.
“FAS Manila lowered 2023 pork production in response to ASF’s continued spread in new provinces within the Central and Western Visayas region, including Negros Occidental, Negros Oriental, and Aklan,” the USDA said.
Last year, Central Visayas was the biggest pork producer while Western Visayas ranked third because ASF has decimated swine inventories in many regions.
Pork production in the Philippines was at 1.2 million tons in 2022, 5% higher than in 2021, with Central Visayas reporting a 2% increase in production and pork production in Western Visayas expanding by 8%.
Pork production in Central Luzon is bouncing back, posting a 41% year on year jump to 92,331 tons in the first quarter of 2023. Likewise, production in Calabarzon is recovering, with production growing by 18% year on year to 42,829 tons in the first quarter.
The FAS expects Philippine pork imports to drop to 500,000 tons this year from its original forecast of 525,000 tons.
Ir sees pork consumption declining to 1.42 million tons this year, lower than its original forecast of 1.499 million tons.
