Press Releases

Estimated live pig supply

According to the information provided by the Special Commissioner's Office in Guangzhou, Ministry of Commerce, the estimated number of live pigs to be imported from the Mainland for tomorrow (January 24) is about 4000. The estimated number of local pigs is 100, bringing the total live pig supply in Hong Kong to about 4100, a spokesman for the Food and Health Bureau said today (January 23).

The number of live pigs arriving at slaughter houses today is 3786, with 3518 imported from the Mainland and 268 from local farms. The wholesale price for live pigs ranges from $1220 to $1728 per 100 catties.

Responding to remarks that the daily import of live pigs from the Mainland had not reached 4000, the spokesman explained that the number of imported live pigs was 4659, 4361 and 5179 respectively in the first three days since last Friday (January 18). There was stock remained in slaughter houses awaiting auction or slaughter after meeting the market demand every day and the accumulative stock was once high as some 2000 pigs. As such, the import quantity for the subsequent two days went down to 3500 and 3314 pigs accordingly.

In sum, a daily average of some 4200 Mainland live pigs had been supplied to Hong Kong in the past five days.

"Under such circumstances, a rigid importation of more than 4000 live pigs from the Mainland every day will lead to overstocking in the slaughter house," he said.

The spokesman added that announcing the estimated live pig supply for the following day could enhance information flow and transparency of the market. Members of the public and traders could better understand the overall supply of live pigs.

Noting that the estimated figures only served as an indicator, the spokesman said the actual supply should be adjusted in accordance with market demand.


Ends/Wednesday, January 23, 2008
Issued at HKT 22:06

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