A customer chooses imported pork at Big C supermarket Thăng Long in Hà Nội. — Photo congthuong.com.vn

HÀ NỘI — The price of live hog in the Vietnamese market decreased recently after the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) allowed imports of pigs from Thailand.

In the northern region, the price of live hog fell slightly by between VNĐ1,000-VNĐ3,000 per kilo to VNĐ92,000-VNĐ95,000. Meanwhile, the prices in the central and southern regions were down to VNĐ88,000-VNĐ93,000 per kilo.

Nguyễn Văn Trọng, deputy director of the MARD’s Department of Livestock Breeding, said the price of live pigs will drop further in the near future.

Trọng said there are many businesses registering to import live pigs, some of them have registered imports of between 100,000-200,000 pigs.

Insiders said that the price of live pigs imported from Thailand is about VNĐ50,000 (US$2.1) per kilo, but it will increase because the transport of live pigs must go via Laos and Cambodia.

Nguyễn Đình Bích, an expert in research and analysis of Việt Nam's agricultural market, told local media that the import of live pigs will meet the increasing demand of Vietnamese consumers and pulling down the price of domestic pork.

“Frozen pork is mainly used for food processing and serving meals for workers, while fresh pork is always used in the family meal,” Bích said.

In addition, he said due to fears of African swine fever recurrence, many farm owners sold pigs sooner than the expected time, making the price drop.

“The sale of pigs increased the supply of pork in the country. However, it is only positive news at the present time. In the long run, the market will still lack pork,” Bích said.

He said although the price of live pigs dropped sharply in recent days, the price of pork at traditional markets and supermarkets still remained high at between VNĐ170,000-VNĐ230,000 per kilo.

At an online conference held between Việt Nam Department of Animal Health and Thailand Livestock Development Department last week, the two sides discussed and agreed procedures and conditions to import live pigs from Thailand. The pigs will be slaughtered in Việt Nam.

The two sides also agreed detailed provisions on veterinary hygiene requirements, quarantine procedures and quarantine certificates for pigs from Thailand.

The price of pork began fluctuating early last year as Việt Nam was facing the outbreak of African swine fever.

Under the Government’s direction on reducing the price of live pigs to VNĐ60,000 per kilo for stability in the domestic market during the COVID-19 pandemic, 15 major livestock enterprises has committed to join the price stabilisation programme for several months. However, the price of pork is not yet controlled. — VNS