In order to improve the sector's production management and guarantee safe pork trade, the Guatemalan government is moving forward with the implementation of the Official Pork Traceability Program.
The program, which is being implemented by the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Food (Maga), consists of placing radiofrequency button-type and flag-type devices for breeding animals.
Between the first two months of 2019 and the same period in 2020, the number of pigs slaughtered in Panama increased by only 1%, while cattle slaughtering grew by 3%.
The General Comptroller's Office of the Republic of Panama reported that 80,841 heads of pigs were slaughtered in the first two months of the year, a figure higher than the 80,067 reported in the same period of 2019.
Between January 2019 and the same period in 2020, the number of pigs slaughtered in Panama increased by 4%, while cattle slaughtering grew by 2%.
According to figures from the General Comptroller's Office of the Republic of Panama, 41,226 heads of pigs were slaughtered in the first month of the year, which is higher than the 39,506 reported in the same period of 2019.
Between January and November of this year, pig producers slaughtered 486,500 pigs, 10% less than reported for the same period in 2018.
Figures from the latest report by the General Comptroller of the Republic detail that the slaughter of pigs in Panama has been registering a downward trend towards the closure of each year since 2017.
Producer Eric Velazquez, who is part of the National Association of Pig Farmers (Anapor), told Laestrella.com.pa that "... 'this year (2019) was difficult at first, the situation improved in the middle of the year, and the situation was so strong that many colleagues left the activity; however, everything changed at the end, because those of us who are still standing are reaping the investment."
Consistent with the downward trend reported in recent months, between January and August 2018 and the same period in 2019 the number of pigs slaughtered in the country fell 9%, while the slaughter of cattle grew 3% for the periods in question.
The most recent report of the General Comptroller of the Republic details that in the first eight months of the year 223,979 head of cattle were slaughtered, a figure higher than the 216,059 reported in the same period of 2018.
Between January and July 2018 and the same period in 2019 the number of pigs slaughtered in Panama decreased 9%, while the slaughter of cattle increased 3%.
The most recent data from the General Comptroller's Office of the Republic of Panama detail that in the first seven months of the year 193,231 head of cattle were slaughtered, a figure higher than the 187,248 reported in the same period of 2018.
Between the first five months of 2018 and the same period in 2019, the slaughter of cattle in Panama increased 4%, while that of pigs decreased 8%.
The most recent report of the General Comptroller of the Republic of Panama details that in the first five months of the year 137,636 head of cattle were slaughtered, a figure higher than the 132,136 reported in the same period of 2018.
Panama notified the international organization of its decision to initiate a safeguard investigation into certain cuts of fresh, chilled or frozen pork.
According to Resolution No. 003 of May 3, 2019, published in the Gaceta Oficial (Official Gazette), the Panamanian government ordered "to begin an investigation for the possible imposition of safeguard measures to the product Pork meat, fresh, chilled or frozen; in carcasses or half carcasses, bone-in or boneless, fit for human consumption, requested by the Asociación Nacional de Porcinoculturoes de Panamá (ANAPOR)."
The government ordered the start of an administrative investigation to determine whether safeguard measures on pork imports are warranted.
According to Resolution No. 003 of May 3, 2019, published in La Gaceta Oficial, "it is ordered to initiate an investigation for the possible imposition of safeguard measures to the product Meat of pigs, fresh, chilled or frozen; in carcasses or half carcasses, bone-in or boneless, fit for human consumption, requested by the National Association of Pig Producers of Panama (ANAPOR)."
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.
Despite the complex situation, pig farmers in Nicaragua estimate that they will achieve their goal of producing and marketing 13,600 tons of pork this year.
According to representatives from the Nicaraguan Chamber of Producers (Caniporc), so far this year pork consumption went down by only 1% and the value of each live animal decreased by 5%, and the reason for this is the social and political crisis that has been affecting the country for more than five months.
The Varela administration has applied a special agricultural safeguard to some porcine products imported from the United States, among which are hams, legs, shoulders and their pieces.
Arguing that up until July 16 of the current year, 3,506 metric tons of pork have entered the country, a volume that exceeds the 2,697 metric tons agreed for this year in the Trade Promotion Treaty, the Ministry of Commerce and Industries (Mici) resolved to increase the tariff on fifteen products imported from the USA.
The guild of pig farmers in Panama estimates that due to a drop in the price, the sector could register this year a slight contraction compared to 2017.
Entrepreneurs in the sector explained that, despite the fact that in the first month of 2018 pig slaughter grew by 6% compared to January 2017, this year a slight downward correction is expected with respect to the figures reported last year.
Since January 19, the measure imposed last August by the Honduran government last August, which prevented the entry of pork products and by-products from Guatemala, has been lifted.
After consultation meetings on this matter, Honduras lifted the measure, reestablishing, as of January 19 of this year, the entry of processed meats and sausages into the Honduran market corresponding to tariff items 1601.00.30.00, 1601.00.90.00, 1602.41. 00.00 and 1602.49.90.00.
The growth could be driven by improvements that have been achieved in terms of technification, production management and meat processing and distribution.
Between January and October of this year, activities in the pig farmer sector registered an increase of 7% compared to the same period in 2016.