In Southeast Asia, Meat Processors Dealing with ASF's Impact on Pork Supplies

Travis Arp, USMEF senior director of technical services and access, has just returned from meetings in Vietnam and the Philippines. He notes that Vietnam has been dealing with the impact of African swine fever (ASF) for several months and meat processors are actively looking to secure more imported pork. Since ASF was first confirmed in Vietnam in February of this year, the disease has spread to all of the country's 63 provinces. Vietnam's ASF-related hog losses are estimated at 4.7 million head and its hog inventory is down 19% from the beginning of the year.

The Philippines, which is already a large pork importer, is just beginning to feel the impact of ASF. The disease was first confirmed in the Philippines in early September, though investigations into possible ASF cases began about a month earlier. According to the Philippine government's most recent estimate, about 20,000 pigs have been lost to ASF or were culled to prevent further spread of the disease.

Other countries in Southeast Asia where ASF is present include Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar. The disease was also confirmed this week in East Timor.

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The U.S. Meat Export Federation (www.USMEF.org) is the trade association responsible for developing international markets for the U.S. red meat industry. It is funded by USDA; the beef, pork, lamb, corn and soybean checkoff programs, as well as its members representing nine industry sectors: beef/veal producing & feeding, pork producing & feeding, lamb producing & feeding, packing & processing, purveying & trading, oilseeds producing, feedgrains producing, farm organizations and supply & service organizations. USMEF complies with all equal opportunity, non-discrimination and affirmative action measures applicable to it by contract, government rule or regulation or as otherwise provided by law. USMEF is an equal opportunity employer and provider.