In the last five years, pork consumption in Central America increased 42%, from 197,000 tons in 2014 to nearly 279,000 tons in 2019, growth that was boosted by the Salvadoran and Honduran markets.
Figures from the "Pork Market Snapshot" prepared by the Trade Intelligence Unit of CentralAmericaData, detail that in the last two years’ regional consumption of pork registered a 3% increase, since between 2018 and 2019 it is estimated that demand in Central America rose from 270 thousand metric tons to 279 thousand tons.
After meeting all the requirements demanded by the Asian country's authorities, the first shipment of 24,000 kilos of frozen pork cuts was sent on February 14.
The company that made the first shipment is Carnes Zamora, which in the first shipment included chops, ribs, shoulders, fat, skin, legs, horns and ears.
As in the case of Panama, Chinese authorities gave their endorsement for the processing plants Porcina Americana and Carnes Zamora to start selling pork products to the Asian giant from January 2020.
Following the authorization granted by the Asian country, pig farmers predict a strong impact on employment generation in rural sectors where most pig farms are located, reported the National Animal Health Service of Costa Rica (Senasa).
Between 2017 and 2018, the number of cattle rose from 1.49 million to 1.58 million, an increase of 5%.
The National Agricultural Survey (ENA) prepared by the National Institute of Statistics and Censuses, specifies that of the total number of cattle counted in 2018, 61.8% corresponds to meat production, 15.8% was allocated to milk production, 22.2% dual purpose and finally, working animals represent 0.2%.
Reports of African Swine Fever in Asia alert countries in the region to strengthen border controls, especially in the management of food waste from airplanes and ships.
The Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) urged the strengthening of animal health and public and private veterinary services in the member states to prevent the recurrence of African swine fever (ASF) in the region, the institution warned in a statement.
The 52% of the total cattle registered in the country corresponds to animals for meat production, 16% to dairy cattle and 31% for double purpose.
The National Agricultural Survey (ENA 2017), carried out by the National Institute of Statistics and Censuses (INEC), details that among the main results was found that the country has 1,497,551 head of cattle.
It has been announced that after having met all the requirements, the country has officially obtained recognition as a nation free of Classical Swine Fever.
The Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock reported that "...This recognition gives Costa Rica an official health status, thanks to the fact that the country does not have the disease and the conditions of legislation have been fulfilled which include veterinary services, control and eradication strategy, animal identification system, control of their movements and laboratory diagnosis, among other things."
Starting from November 24 of this year, new guidelines will be in effect governing requirements and conditions for transporting pigs in the country.
Directive SENASA-DG-D001-2017, published on August 24, officialized the new "Official Guide for Transporting Porcine Cattle," which will constitute the new regulations for transporting pigs from 24 November.
In the last five years annual per capita consumption of pork in the countries of the region increased from 4.6 kilos in 2012 to 5.3 kilos in 2016, and growth was driven mainly by Panama and Costa Rica.
Between 2012 and 2016 regional pork consumption has maintained an upward trend, growing from 205 thousand tons in 2012 to 249 thousand tons in 2016, which is an increase of 21%.
In Costa Rica, the pig farmers' association has filed a complaint alleging that importers such as Walmart, Cargill and Sigma Alimentos are manipulating pork prices in the local market.
The Costa Rican Chamber of Porculturists (Caporc) filed a complaint with the Consumer Protection and Advocacy Commission (Coprocom), arguing that "...three multinational companies make up 65% of total pork imports, and that this concentration demonstrates significant market power that undermines free competition and market transparency."
From September 6 to 8, companies from the porcine sector of Central America will be gathering together in Panama City to participate in conferences on production, technology and industry trends.
The XIII Central American and Caribbean Congress on Pig farming is being organized by the Central American and Caribbean Federation of Pig farmers, and will take place in the Convention Center of the Hotel El Panama.
Senasa has started the process of registration and updating information on subsistence, small, medium and large pig farms in the country.
From a statement issued by the Ministry of Agriculture:
As part of the implementation of the Control System for Mobilization and Traceability of pigs from the beginning of this year 2017, the National Animal Health Service (SENASA) at the Ministry of Agriculture, is carrying out, in regional offices, registration and updating of information of existing pig farms in the country (subsistence / backyard, small, medium and large) in the Integrated Registration System for Agricultural Establishments (SIREA by its initials in Spanish), with registration of establishments composing the first stage established in the implementation of the traceability system for the pig sector.
The pork producing sector has started negotiations with the governments of Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua and Costa Rica, to revive pork exports in the short term.
The union of pig farmers has already contacted neighboring countries to express their interest in resuming pork exports, after the country declared itself free of swine feverin August.
Frozen meat and meat products such as sausages, ham and salami are some of the goods imported by supermarkets, restaurants and hotels in India.
From a report by Eurocarne.com:
The Foreign Service at the United States Department of Agriculture has prepared a report on the situation of the pork production in India and trade of this product.According to the report, the Asian country produced around 464,000 tons of this product from April 2014 to March 2015 and this amount accounts for 8% of the total protein intake in the country. It also states that the figure is 1.4% more than in the same period in previous years.
A rise is anticipated in the international price of pork in the third quarter of 2016 because of continued strong demand from the Asian country.
From a report on Agromeat.com:
Continued strong demand for pork from China and maintenance of supply will be the main factors in the third quarter of 2016, according to a report by Rabobank concerning the third quarter of 2016.In the view of Albert Vernooij, animal protein analyst at Rabobank, "this will lead to an increase in pork prices on the Rabobank index, improving margins for farmers".