Meat processors, particularly ham makers, assured the public of a stable supply of ham and other processed pork products throughout the holiday season, despite a looming shortfall of local pork.
Philippine Association of Meat Processors, Inc. (PAMPI) vice president Jerome Ong said the country’s meat processors have already anticipated and prepared for the usual surge in demand for holiday products like ham.
“In view of the looming shortage of pork during the holidays, most ham makers have already secured their raw materials needed to produce ham and other pork products. This is due to the industry’s experience and ability to project its needed volumes throughout the year and especially during the Christmas season and understanding of the demand and consumption,” said Ong, who is also the CEO of Foodsphere, Inc., makers of CDO hams and meat products. Othel V. Campos
He added that hams have become a staple during Noche Buena and a regular part of Christmas gift-giving.
However, meat processors cannot ascertain if there will be price adjustments in the price Christmas hams, as prices of raw materials, including pork, have also increased during the previous months.
The Consumer Protection Group (CPG) of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) reminded ham producers that Christmas hams are still part of the Noche Buena SRP, and prices will have to be monitored. The DTI will ensure that manufacturers comply with the prices as provided for in the Noche Buena SRP Bulletin.
The Department of Agriculture (DA) have issued fair warning on the likelihood of pork supply shortage equivalent to a 10-day inventory that may occur during the height of the holidays season.
Pig raisers haves suffered a long, protracted battle against African Swine Fever. There are new areas of infection including the recent outbreak in 2 municipalities in Oriental Mindoro and about 98 barangays in 19 provinces with active cases of ASF, according to the Department of Agriculture.
The alleged shortfall has given rise to an opportunity for the UK pork traders to push for the extension of EO 134 which is bound to expire by end December 2023.
The alleged shortfall has given rise to an opportunity for the UK pork traders to push for the extension of EO 134 which is bound to expire by end December 2023, British Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines (BCCP) executive director and trustee Chris Nelson said Wednesday.
“Obviously with the forecast of shortages, this reinforces the need to extend the tariffs and this will help in terms of pricing and supply .UK producers would of course look at the availability of price since there is an overall shortage and less production available currently. We’ve been establishing long term relationships between importers and UK pork suppliers,” he said.
He added that 2022 was banner year for UK pork traders as pork trade with the Philippines increased by 30 percent.
Industry figures showed that in 2022, the import volume of pork meat to the Philippines significantly increased compared to 2021. From 555,700 metric tons (MT), imported pork increased to roughly 710,360 MT of imported bellies, fats, offals, pork cuts, and rind or skin in 2022.
Majority of imported pork were sourced from European countries including the UK.