Pig prices in most provinces and cities across the country are currently at their lowest since the end of 2019, at only around 50-57,000 VND/kg.
At the end of 2019, consumers witnessed pig prices in most provinces and cities jump to 68-71,000 VND/kg in early December 2019 and to 90-95,000 VND/kg at the end of the month. At that time, pork in traditional markets increased to 140-200,000 VND/kg depending on the type.
By May 2020, the price of live pigs had reached its highest peak in 20 years and reached 100-103,000 VND/kg, the price of pork in traditional markets was from 150-260,000 VND/kg depending on the type.
Although the price of live pigs has decreased sharply, the price of meat in the market is still high.
However, recently, the price of live pigs has continuously decreased sharply and most sharply in recent days, even reaching its lowest point in the past 2 years.
Specifically, in the northern provinces such as Phu Tho, Bac Giang, Tuyen Quang, Lao Cai, Vinh Phuc, Ninh Binh, Hanoi, the price of live pigs is only about 55-56,000 VND/kg.
In the central provinces such as Thanh Hoa, Nghe An, Lam Dong, it is only at 56-57,000 VND/kg.
In provinces such as Dong Nai, Kien Giang, An Giang, Ca Mau, Binh Duong, Binh Phuoc, Vung Tau, live pigs are being purchased at only 50-52,000 VND/kg.
However, although the price of live pigs has dropped by nearly half compared to May 2020, the price of pork at the traditional market is still high, from 130-170,000 VND/kg, which means it has only decreased by about 10-15%, but farmers are still suffering heavy losses.
Mr. Pham Ngoc May, the owner of 6 pig farms with a scale of more than 10,000 pigs in Kien Giang province, said that the current batch of pigs at his farm is 100-150kg/pig but still cannot be sold.
According to Mr. May, in the past, when pigs were ready to be sold, companies would send trucks to collect 300-400 pigs per day. However, due to the impact of Covid-19, although the price has dropped to only 50,000 VND/kg, he can only sell 100-130 pigs per day.
Tens of thousands of pigs at Mr. May's farm are ready to be sold, but even though the price has dropped to only 50,000 VND/kg, they still cannot be sold.
"I buy each pig weighing about 10kg for about 2-2.5 million VND. When the pig is 100kg, it will use about 300kg of feed, losing another 3.1-3.2 million VND. Add in the cost of labor, electricity, medicine... and it will cost about 700,000 VND/pig, not to mention the depreciation of the barn. So, if each pig is sold at 50,000 VND/kg, I will lose about 1 million VND/pig," said Mr. May.
Due to the low price and slow consumption, tens of thousands of pigs at Mr. May's farm have not been sold, and it costs more money for feed and labor every day. Therefore, many pig farms are facing a very high risk of loss.
The reason for the low price of live pigs is explained by the fact that after the African swine fever epidemic was controlled, households, farms and livestock enterprises focused on investing in re-herding in large numbers.
Moreover, a large amount of pork and frozen pigs imported from other countries has pushed the price of pigs down.
The price of live pigs has dropped but the price of pork at the market is still high because the market has not yet harmonized production, circulation and consumption.
In addition, the Covid-19 epidemic is complicated, restaurants, food stalls, and collective kitchens have closed and stopped operating, which has significantly affected the purchase price of live pigs.
According to Mr. Nguyen Van Trong - Deputy Director of the Department of Animal Husbandry (Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development), the price of live pigs has dropped but the price of pork at the market is still high because the market has not yet harmonized the three stages of production, circulation and consumption.
The high price of pork sold at the market proves that the circulation stage is making a relatively large profit, while farmers are suffering great losses and consumers are not benefiting.
According to 24h