Meat imports breach 750,000 MT in 7 months

The country's meat imports continue to grow this year as total volume at the end of July rose by almost eight percent on an annual basis to over 750,000 metric tons (MT), driven by higher pork and beef purchases abroad.

- By JASPER EMMANUEL ARCALAS

Latest Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) data showed meat imports from January to July reached 757,296.82 MT, about 7.84 percent higher than the 702,243.32 MT recorded volume in the same period last year.

Pork imports accounted for almost half of the total meat purchases during the seven-month period with volume reaching 372,941.232 MT.

The volume was 7.54 percent over the 346,789.904 MT recorded pork imports a year ago, based on BAI data released yesterday.

The country continued to turn to foreign supplies to augment its domestic stocks of pork as the local hog industry continues to reel from the threats of African swine fever (ASF).