Philippines lowers chicken production forecast

The Philippines is expected to produce and import less chicken this year. Photo: mrsiraphol

Amid strained demand and tight global supply, the Philippines is expected to produce and import less chicken this year.

A USDA report anticipates that the Philippines will produce 1.33 mmt of chicken meat this year, down from its earlier forecast of 1.36 mmt, noting that chicken production was 11% lower year-over-year in the first quarter of 2021, according to the Philippines Statistics Authority.

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Chicken imports forecast down

Chicken import forecasts were also adjusted from 350,000 mt to 330,000 mt based on “increasingly stressed supply chains”, adding that Philippine meat processors, which account for the majority of poultry meat imports, have stressed difficulties sourcing mechanically deboned meat as long as European supplies remain restricted.

A struggling poultry industry

The Manila Bulletin reported that the president of the United Broiler Raisers Association (UBRA), Bong Inciong, said the country’s poultry industry is struggling to recover from the impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic, which is negatively impacting farmgate prices and demand, noting that importers are losing money because of low demand.