Manila: The Department of Agriculture (DA) on Monday said hog raisers' 'fastbreak' selling, rather than overimportation, is behind the recent decline in farmgate pork prices. The DA pointed out that local hog producers have rushed to sell their animals amid fears of another outbreak of African swine fever (ASF), which has historically resurged during the third quarter amid the rainy season.
According to Philippines News Agency, DA Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. stated that the current decline in farmgate prices is driven by the industry's move to sell hogs earlier than planned, rather than by an import surge. "Rather than risk getting hit by ASF, or having an outbreak occur next door, they want to sell everything before they are affected," he said, noting that hogs are being brought to market ahead of schedule.
Data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) showed that farmgate prices fell by 18.6 percent to PHP172.44 per kilogram from PHP211.91 per kilo a year earlier. Tiu Laurel also mentioned that the number of hog raisers increased this year following the surge in retail pork prices in 2025. This trend is reflected in local pork production, which rose by 5.6 percent to 412,280 metric tons (MT) in the second quarter. "Last year, there was also an ASF outbreak, and pork prices rose sharply," he added.
In 2025, retail prices of pork liempo (belly) ranged from PHP450 to PHP490 per kilo, while pork kasim (shoulder) reached about PHP400 per kilo. For its part, the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) indicated that pork imports are expected to decline as local production increases, following higher import volumes by food processors last year. The BAI projected imports to drop by about 50,000 MT from last year's 851,760 MT.
The DA expressed optimism over the possible expansion of local hog production following the BAI's approval of ASF AVAC live vaccines for commercial use in the Philippines. The agency mentioned that the vaccines could help stabilize local supply and further reduce the country's import requirements for pork.
