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.
In response to alerts of African Swine Fever cases reported in Asia, authorities in El Salvador reported that they will carry out fumigations on air, land and sea transportation coming from the affected countries.
The Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) alerted the countries of the region at the end of June to strengthen animal health controls and public and private veterinary services in the member states to prevent the recurrence of African Swine Fever (ASF) in the region.
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.
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."
Entrepreneurs in the sector plan to resume sales to El Salvador and Honduras during the second half of the year, after their restriction in 2011.
In 2011, countries in the region imposed restrictions on the entry of pork from Guatemala, after detecting the presence ofClassical Swine Fever.Now, Guatemalan pork producers are preparing to resume sales in the coming months.
The new pig slaughterhouse under construction in San Juan Opico, in La Libertad, will have the capacity to slaughter around 300 pigs per shift.
The slaughterhouse is a joint project by the Salvadoran Association of Producers and the US Embassy, which will contribute most of the funds.The slaughterhouse will have the capacity to slaughter about 300 animals per shift, with the possibility of working two shifts and doubling production.
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 2016 countries in the region exported 41,208 tons of beef to the US, 7% more than in 2015.
Figures from the information system on the Fresh, Refrigerated and Frozen Beef Market in Central America, complied by the Business Intelligence Unit at CentralAmericaData: [GRAFICA caption="Click to interact with the graph"]
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.
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.
It is estimated that in 2017 imports of meat and meat products from China will continue at high rates, due to lower levels of local production.
From a publication by Eurocarne:
The Department of Agriculture has drawn up one of its reports on forecasts for production and trade of meat and meat products in Japan.As indicated, in Japan there is still a reduction in the livestock censuses in the absence of generational change.Consumption also remains very stable.In light of this situation, the USDA estimates that in 2017 the situation seen in 2016 will will be repeated, that is to say there will be very high levels of imports.
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".
The law which required packages of meat beef and pork products to have a label indicating the country of origin is no longer in effect.
After repeated resolutions from the World Trade Organization, which authorized Canada and Mexico to implement economic retaliation measures worth more than $1 billion, the US Congress has finally decided to remove the law that requires labeling of all red meat products which are sold in the retail market in the country.
There is a growing trend for pork consumption, encouraged in some countries in the region by ad campaigns created by companies in the sector.
An article on Eleconomista.net reports that "... Central Americans are eating more and more pork. At the head is Costa Rica, with a per capita consumption of 13 kilos in 2014. And while none of them are the same, all markets are demanding more.