Philippines monitors US poultry shipments
Following reports that traders may soon begin boarding poultry stock to raise domestic prices, the Philippines Department of Agriculture is closely monitoring the entry of imported poultry from the United States.
The Philippines is set to begin receiving US poultry imports this week, up until the end of the year.
“Since legitimate traders already announced they may not subscribe to the entire authorised volume of 5 million kg, there could be individuals or companies that might take advantage of the situation. The department is keeping an eye on traders that will be bringing in imports,†Agriculture Secretary Arthur Yap said yesterday.
San Miguel, RFM, Bounty Chicken, Tyson Agri Ventures, Philippine Association of Broilers Integrators and members of United Broiler Raisers Association are the companies allowed to import poultry.
Agriculture Undersecretary for Livestock and Fisheries Jesus Paras has said the government will be vigilant.
“Hoarding is common practice among traders. What we can do is to strictly monitor the arrival of shipments and make sure we get whatever is the authorized volume only,†he said.
The price of live chicken at the farm level has risen by about 20 pesos (100 pesos = 1.55 euro) per live weight, indicating that demand is outpacing supply. Prices at the wet markets ranged from P120 to P130 per kg while groceries sell whole and cut-up chicken parts from P95 to P114 per kg.
Yap noted the poultry industry supplied consumers with 610,096 mt of poultry meat in 2005, with a lower level of 605,385 mt projected for this year.
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