Pork prices continue to increase: What is the cause?

Pork prices at many traditional markets in Hai Duong have increased by 25,000 - 30,000 VND/kg compared to the same period in 2024. Photo taken at Dong Ngo Quyen market (Hai Duong city)

Increase

Since before the Lunar New Year 2025, the price of live pigs has increased, and after Tet, the price of pigs continues to remain high. In mid-March, according to a survey in the Hai Duong market, the price of live pigs was at 74,000 - 77,000 VND/kg, an increase of 21,000 - 23,000 VND/kg compared to the same period last year.

Mr. Le Thanh Tu in Hop Tien commune (Nam Sach) has 20 years of experience raising pigs. Currently, his farm has 800 sows and 6,000 pigs, of which about 300 are ready for sale. According to Mr. Tu, at this time, pig farmers have many advantages when pork prices are high, animal feed prices have been stable for about a year, maintained at 300,000 - 330,000 VND/bag (25 kg).

On average, each month, Hung Huy Breeding and Livestock Equipment Joint Stock Company in Dinh Son Commune (Cam Giang) sells about 1,000 pigs. At the moment, the company has about 300 pigs ready for sale. According to the company representative, with the current price of live pigs, farmers earn about 2.2 million VND/pig (weight 100 kg).

The reason for the high price of pork is that the disease situation in the pig herd is still present in some localities across the country. According to statistics from the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, by the end of February, the whole country had 50 communes in 36 districts and cities in 18 localities with African swine fever, causing nearly 4,500 pigs to die and be destroyed. Many provinces and cities strictly manage the environment in livestock farming, and farms that do not meet the conditions are forced to "hang up their cages".

Currently, the price of live pigs varies between regions. In the South, the price of live pigs is at 80,000-83,000 VND/kg, so some traders in the North buy pigs and transport them to the South for consumption. The psychology of some farmers wanting to keep pigs waiting for higher prices also contributes to affecting the supply, continuing to push up pork prices in the market.

According to a survey by Hai Duong Newspaper reporters at some traditional markets in the province, in mid-March, pork prices were 25,000 - 30,000 VND/kg higher than the same period in 2024. Specifically, pork butt was 120,000 VND/kg, pork belly was 155,000 - 160,000 VND/kg, ribs were 165,000 - 170,000 VND/kg.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Yen, a pork trader at Dong Ngo Quyen market (Hai Duong city) said: “Because the price of imported meat is high, we have to increase the price, but it increases too quickly, consumers will not buy it and may switch to other foods such as chicken, duck, fish, etc. to replace pork. Currently, the number of customers buying pork has decreased by 20-30% compared to the time when the price was stable. Previously, there were people who bought 2-3 kg of meat at a time, but now the amount of meat bought each time has also decreased sharply. The price of pork is high, the purchasing power of consumers has decreased, so I do not dare to import a lot of goods."

For about a month now, Ms. Mai Thi Nuong in Ninh Giang town has had to change her shopping habits. Previously, pork was a familiar dish in Ms. Nuong's family meals. Every week, her family had to eat pork 3-4 days, but now that pork prices have increased, Ms. Nuong has had to choose other cheaper foods such as chicken and fish to save on living expenses.

Pig farming is profitable, so people tend to focus on raising pigs, causing the price of piglets to also increase (photo provided by the facility)

Be careful to restore the herd.

According to data from the provincial Statistics Office, by early March, the total herd of pigs (excluding suckling pigs) in Hai Duong reached about 362,000, up 6.5% over the same period last year; the number of pigs sold in February reached 57,000, up 6%; the output of fresh meat sold was 6,000 tons, up 6.5%.

According to market rules, when the selling price increases and production is profitable, many farmers will simultaneously restore their herds to supply the market. Currently, pig farming is highly profitable, so people tend to focus on pig farming, which has pushed up the price of piglets. In mid-March, the price of piglets in Hai Duong market was from 2.8 to 2.9 million VND/pig (weighing about 7 kg/pig). Meanwhile, in the same period in 2024, the price of piglets fluctuated between 1.4 and 1.5 million VND/pig.

According to Mr. Le Thanh Tu, the supply of piglets has become scarce. Many people have difficulty buying piglets to restore their herds. Some people have placed orders since March, but the suppliers have promised to have piglets around May or June.

The high price of piglets will pose a great risk to pig farmers because pork prices may fluctuate in the coming months. If they follow the market, small pig farmers may suffer losses when pig prices fall.

The Department of Animal Husbandry, Fisheries and Veterinary Medicine (Department of Agriculture and Environment) recommends that farmers should be cautious and consider carefully when repopulating pigs. Massive repopulation can lead to oversupply, falling prices, leading to no profit or even losses. Strengthen disease prevention, implement biosafety farming, vaccinate pigs, etc.

HUYEN TRANG

Source: https://baohaiduong.vn/gia-thit-lon-tang-lien-tuc-nguyen-nhan-do-dau-407434.html