The inventory of dressed chicken and frozen pork for the week ending December 3 was up by double digits, with imports constituting the bulk of meat products stored in local cold storages.
Data from the National Meat Inspection Service (NMIS) indicated that the inventory of frozen pork during the period rose by 39.2 percent to 37,065.85 metric tons, from 26,618.89 MT recorded a year ago.
Of the frozen pork in local cold storages, NMIS data showed that imports accounted for 33,288.24 MT, or nearly 90 percent of the inventory during the period. Some 60 percent of the frozen pork are in Region 3 (14,417.02 MT) and Region 4A (7,081.6 MT).
The inventory of imported frozen pork was higher by nearly 30 percent than last year’s 25,734.21 MT.
Figures from the NMIS indicated that more than 90 percent of frozen-pork inventory for the week ending December 4, 2017, was also made up of imports.
The NMIS said the frozen-pork inventory included carcass, primal and specialty cuts. The survey covered accredited commercial and in-house cold-storage facilities.
Chicken supply
Data from the NMIS also showed that dressed chicken inventory during the period also went up by 20.4 percent to 35,840.71 MT, from last year’s 29,752.89 MT.
The NMIS found that more than half, or 19,005.98 MT, of the dressed chicken inventory during the period was made up of imports. Local chicken in cold storages reached 16,834.73 MT.
Data from the attached agency of the Department of Agriculture (DA) indicated that the inventory of imports in local storages was higher by 45.37 percent than last year’s 13,073.77 MT.
NMIS figures showed that some 12,000 MT of imported poultry were stored in Region 3 (5,234.07 MT) and 4A (6,821.44 MT). The bulk of local chicken was also stored in the two regions.
The NMIS, an attached agency of the DA, said the figures did not include fresh, chilled chicken and mechanically deboned meat, as well as those already in distribution channels.
The agency also said the survey covered only accredited cold-storage facilities.
Filipino traders are allowed to purchase pork and chicken from abroad, and they usually do so via the minimum-access volume scheme of the World Trade Organization.