Illustrative photo (Source: nationthailand.com) Bangkok (VNA) – The Thai Department of Internal Trade (DIT) Director-GeneralWhichai Pochanakij has asked the Swine Raisers Association of Thailand to limitpig prices to 80 baht (2.56 USD) per kilogram.
Thepresent price is around 75 baht to 80 baht per kilogram, The Nation Thailandreported.
DITDeputy Director-General Wattanasak Sur-iam said the price needs to becontrolled so that pork prices are at most 160 baht per kilogram.
Healso added that if pig prices went beyond 80 baht per kilogram, his departmentwould limit swine exports.
Thepork price has increased due to a lifting of the lockdown, with restaurants andhotels ordering more pork to meet an expected increase in demand. The reopeningof schools has also spurred demand, Wattanasak said.
Anotherfactor for the increase in pork prices was African swine fever in nearbycountries and China, he said.
However,the department estimated that the increase in price would be only short term.
Wattanasaksaid the DIT won’t intervene over this “short-term” increase, as it would beadvantageous for swine raisers, who had been affected by low prices.
Thecountry exported 400,000 to 500,000 pigs last year.
In2020, exports are expected to touch 2.16 million to 2.88 million pigs. Thisnumber is estimated to be at a safe level and will not affect domesticconsumption./.
VNA
