As reported by Tien Phong Newspaper, in the North, pig prices today (May 26) ranged from 68,000 to 69,000 VND/kg. The highest price was recorded in Bac Giang, Hung Yen, Thai Nguyen, Phu Tho, Thai Binh, Ha Nam, Vinh Phuc, Hanoi, and Tuyen Quang.
In the Central and Central Highlands regions, pig prices remained at 65,000-69,000 VND/kg. Lam Dong province had the highest price in the region.
In the South, pig prices ranged from 66,000 to 69,000 VND/kg. The price listed by C.P Vietnam Livestock Company has also been adjusted to 69,000 VND/kg.
Overall, in the past week (May 20-26), pig prices have been increasing rapidly and widely (up by 4,000 VND/kg compared to the previous week). Many localities are approaching the 70,000 VND/kg mark. This is the highest price in the past two years for Vietnam’s pig market.
The Vietnam Livestock Association attributed the rising pig prices to the scarce supply due to the impact of the African swine fever and effective control of pig smuggling, as well as market psychology.
In the North, according to some enterprises, the supply of pigs ready for sale is still limited. Especially, the price difference between the North and the border localities of China is low, so the transportation and trading of pigs from China to Vietnam are also quieter.
The rebound in pig prices has brought profits to farmers after a long period of losses.
A similar situation occurred in the South and Central regions. In March, the price difference between Vietnam and Thailand reached 20,000 VND/kg, leading to an influx of pigs from Thailand and Cambodia into the Vietnamese market.
However, in April, after the issue of pig smuggling was reflected and the outbreak of rinderpest in Thailand, the checkpoints in the Central region tightened quarantine measures for pigs from Thailand. At the same time, the price difference between Vietnam and Thailand narrowed to only 11,000-15,000 VND/kg, while transportation costs tended to increase, making it less attractive for traders.
Earlier this year, according to the Dong Nai Livestock Association, about 6,000-7,000 smuggled pigs were imported into Vietnam every night. The number of smuggled pigs also accounted for about 30% of the country’s daily domestic production.
Mr. Nguyen Van Trong, former deputy director of Animal Husbandry – Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD), said that with this price, not only enterprises but also small-scale farmers have made profits. This price helps farmers recover from a long period of losses and scale down.
According to Mr. Trong, the low pig prices in the past two years have reduced the number of farming households in Vietnam by more than 50% compared to before. Currently, the price of piglets is still high, making farmers cautious about restocking. However, Mr. Trong believes that due to the large losses in the number of herds of breeding companies due to the African swine fever in 2023, supply cannot recover in the short term.
“The economy is tending to recover, and the demand for pork is expected to increase again, so pig prices will remain high until the end of the year. If farmers can ensure good housing and control diseases, they can take advantage of this opportunity to restock,” said Mr. Trong.
