MANILA, Philippines — The country’s meat imports increased by almost eight percent in eight months due to the continued entry of pork and chicken meat, according to the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI).
Latest data from the BAI showed that meat imports rose by 7.6 percent to 1.14 million metric tons as of August 2026, up from 1.06 million MT in the same period last year.
The continued rise in meat imports were mainly led by pork and chicken, while beef shipments declined.
Making up more than half of all meat import volumes during the period, pork imports expanded by five percent year-on-year to 602,655 MT from 573,091 MT the previous year.
Pork cuts made up the largest share in imported meat varieties at 254,524 MT, while imports of pork offal reached 182,969 MT. The country also imported 86,117 MT of pork bellies and 51,354 MT of pork fat during the period.
In the eight-month period, shipments of chicken meat rose by 15 percent to 369,926 MT from 322,007 MT the previous year.
Broken down, imports of mechanically deboned meat (MDM) totaled 216,427 MT in the January to August period. It accounted for more than half of all chicken meat shipments.
MDM is among the main components of meat processors for food products like hotdog and luncheon meat, among others.
In an earlier report, the US Department of Agriculture said the Philippines is expected to import more chicken and pork meat next year due to continued population growth and rising demand.
The country is estimated to import a record 835,000 MT of pork meat by 2027, while imports of chicken meat are expected to reach 780,000 MT, according to the international agency.
Meanwhile, BAI data also showed that beef imports declined by 5.2 percent to 124,830 MT in the eight-month period from 131,991 MT a year ago.
Beef cuts made up most of the meat purchases, reaching 81,540 MT, followed by beef fat at 23,540 MT.
The country’s top meat sources from January to August are: Brazil (541,129 MT), US (141,636 MT) and Australia (60,360 MT).