Philippines now Brazil’s 2nd biggest market for pork

São Paulo, Brazil – The Philippines ate its way to become Brazil’s second largest market for pork products as its imports from the South American country expanded at a faster pace in the first half of the year, driven by its need to augment domestic supplies challenged by the African swine fever (ASF).

Brazilian pork exports to the Philippines from January to June hit 84,279 metric tons, about 65 percent higher than the 50,922 MT recorded in the same period a year ago, according to the Brazilian Association of Animal Protein (ABPA).

This made the Philippines Brazil’s second largest market for pork products, accounting for around 14 percent of the South American country’s total pork exports during the six-month period.

The Philippines has been one of Brazil’s fastest growing markets for pork in Asia. Brazil supplied at least 100,000 MT of pork products last year, an exponential growth from a measly 1,400 MT recorded pork import volume in 2015, based on Bureau of Animal Industry data.

“The Philippines has become a main market for swine meat,” Luís Rua, market director of ABPA, said in a press briefing.

Rua noted that the Philippines turned to foreign supplies to meet its pork requirement after ASF, a fatal transboundary pig disease that is not harmful to humans, decimated the country’s swine population.

The Philippines has lost at least three million pigs, with industry players estimating that hog raisers have lost at least P200 billion in profit since ASF was first confirmed in the country in 2019.

Rua said they expect pork exports to the Philippines to sustain growth throughout the year following the accreditation of Brazil’s inspection system earlier this year.

The system accreditation allows all exporters duly registered and accredited by Brazil to ship meat products to the Philippines.

Prior to the system accreditation, there were 53 foreign meat establishments (FMEs) in Brazil that were allowed to export meat products to the Philippines.

“Our exports will increase and diversify because of the accreditation of our system. The Philippines now has more options on providers in addition to (the Brazilian FMEs) that are used to export (to the country) which helps (market) competitiveness,” Rua said.

The ABPA represents the Brazilian poultry and pork industries, with over 140 associates across the entire production chain of the two commodities. The group accounts for 85 percent of Brazil’s entire pork production.

In 2023, Brazil exported 24 percent of its production to at least 89 markets abroad, according to the ABPA.

Brazil is considered as both the world’s fourth largest producer and exporter of pork. Last year, it produced a total of 5.156 million MT of pork, 1.123 million MT of which were exported, according to ABPA.

Brazil exported 613,790 MT of pork in the first half, about four percent higher than the 589,808 MT it shipped in the same period of last year.

ABPA is hosting the International Animal Protein Trade Show here.

Philippine imports of pork from Brazil hit 84,279 metric tons from January to June, 65 percent higher than the 50,922 MT recorded in the same period a year ago, according to the Brazilian Association of Animal Protein.