The supply shortage has sent pork prices soaring in Da Nang in these weeks leading to the New Year and Tet holidays due to the African swine fever crisis affecting the city.

In reality, pork prices in recent months increased by 40-45% compared to the same period last year

According to the latest figures released by the municipal Department of Industry and Trade, last month, the prices of pork have climbed by 40-45% compared to the same period last year, whilst the volume of pork on sale at local markets have gone down by 45-50% against 2018.

“By late November, there had been a total of 19,875 pigs in the city, which had only met about 10% - 15% of the pork needs for local residents. Therefore, the city had bought pigs from other localities nationwide to ensure enough supply for local market” Ms Tran Thi Lanh, Head of the Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Management Office which is under the management of the city's Agency of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary, said.

She emphasised the city is likely to face a severe shortage of pork due growing demand for pork at the end of this year.

Therefore, some businesses citywide have taken the initiative to source a large volume of meat in different types with clear origin from other localities across the country.

In particular, between January and November, the city sourced around 1,060 tonnes of beef, 530 tonnes of buffalo meat, 1,709 tonnes of pork, 14,702 tonnes of chicken and 32 tonnes of lamp in total from elsewhere in the country.

Mr Pham Tuan Anh, Director of the city-based Livestock and Poultry Process JSC, remarked the city saw a 20% decline in the number of pigs slaughtered at slaughter houses across the city due to the significant decrease in the number of pigs raised in farms in Da Nang, Quang Nam, and Binh Dinh. He, hence, said that his company sourced a daily average of 200 pigs from Dong Nam Province.

A veterinary employee checking pigs transported through the city

In addition, some supermarkets and shopping malls in the city have signed long-term agreements with big pig producers nationwide, and sourced frozen pork with clear origin, as a leverage to stabilise pork prices in the coming time.

Director of the city’s Co.op Mart Da Nang Phan Thong said the demand for pork is predicted to rise by 30-40% in the New Year and Tet holidays. However, his supermarket has pledged to provide between 3,500 and 4,500 tonnes of pork at stable prices for its shoppers from now until Tet.

Recently, the Da Nang authorities have asked relevant local agencies to outline measures to ensure enough pork supply and stabilise pork prices, especially before, during and after Tet.

The focus will be on taking various measures to control pig-related diseases, as well as to facilitate pig farms to safely raise herds of pigs.

Importance will be attached to keeping closer watch on pig trade in order to prevent the illegal export of pigs to China, and the import of pigs of unclear origin.

By KHANH HOA, DUYEN ANH, HOANG HIEP - Translated by MAI DUNG