For some producers of ready-to-eat meat products, who are critically dependent on supplies from only one or two pork companies, pork purchase prices have increased by 25-30%. At the same time, since the end of last week some processors have received notices from pig farms that their requests for pork supplies under existing contracts will not be fully satisfied. This was reported to the LP correspondent by the Patronage of Meat Processing Industries PIIPC.
According to PIIPC officials, despite the significant increase in the price of raw materials and difficulties with their supply, many producers of finished meat products have not yet changed the prices of their products. Or they have increased them for some assortment items by no more than 3-5%. However, if in the very near future the country’s authorities do not take measures to effectively fill the shortage of industrial pork and contain prices for it, the rise in prices for both budget sausage and meat delicacies will increase by dozens of percent.
Problems for industrial pork consumers began after cases of African swine fever were detected on two of Moldova’s largest pig farms and the entire herd was destroyed.
According to PIIPC members, there is no simple and cost-effective solution to the situation. Local pig farms are unlikely to be able to dramatically increase the number of animals. Importing piglets for growing or adult pigs for slaughter is problematic due to quarantine restrictions in neighboring Romania and Hungary.
The only quick and effective solution to this situation may be the temporary abolition of customs duties on pork imports.
Details in Friday’s edition of Logos Press weekly.
