Live pig prices doubled price skyrocketed Malaysia pork retail prices
Petaling Jaya's Old Town Pasar pork seller Mr Tong said customers have reduced their purchases of pork belly from 1kg to 600g. ST PHOTO: LU WEI HOONG
TANJUNG SEPAT, Selangor – The sound of meat being chopped by cleavers echoed through eight pork butcher stalls at Petaling Jaya 's Old Town Pasar (market) on May 17, belying a crisis faced by the Malaysian stallholders.
Local butchers are grappling with surging pork prices due to African Swine Fever (ASF) which affected farms in Tanjung Sepat, Selangor, one of the country's largest pig-producing hubs, at the start of the year .
Mr Tong, 50, one of the butchers at the market in Selangor, said his customers have started reducing their pork-belly purchases to cope with the higher prices.
'They would previously buy 1kg of pork belly. Now, it's maybe just one or two strips, around 600g,' said Mr Tong, who preferred to be called Zhu Yok Fatt (Pork Fatt), told The Straits Times on May 17.
Today, 1kg of fresh pork belly in Klang Valley costs RM40 (S$12), a surge of 33 per cent from RM30 in 2020. The current market price is at a two-year high , forcing some consumers to switch to more budget-friendly alternatives such as chicken and fish.
Office executive Hew Jin Hao, 31 said he has already started substituting pork with chicken as a more wallet -friendly option, or occasionally seafood as a luxury treat, compared to two years ago.
'In 2022, a typical pork shoulder cost around RM18 per kg. Now, it's RM25. For just RM5 more, I can buy fish instead. Chicken is only about RM10 per kg, so I'd rather skip pork altogether,' he told ST.
Pork supply in Malaysia was severely disrupted in the aftermath of the death of 300 sows during the ASF outbreak in January 2025, Tanjung Sepat pig farmer Mr Lee said.
'A piglet takes up to two years to grow into a sow for breeding. Now I'm thinking of shutting down my farm, every pig is gone,' said the 60-year-old, who withheld his full name to avoid affecting ongoing transactions, in an interview with ST.
The latest outbreak of ASF in Tanjung Sepat has led to a monthly loss of 30,000 market-ready pigs that had to be culled, each weighing around 120kg, estimated Malaysia Pork Sellers Association chairman Chow Poh Yuen.
As it is, in recent years, Malaysia's domestic supply has not been keeping pace with local consumption of pork – much of this being due to previous outbreaks of ASF, a main bane of the pig-rearing industry.
In 2023, the country produced 1.24 million live pigs with ex-farm market value of RM2.3 billion. It also imported 68,300 metric tonnes of fresh, frozen and chilled pork valued at RM943.82 million. The 2023 imports are four times higher than 2021 's 17,381.9 metric tonnes of pork valued at RM261.38 million.
Live pig prices in Malaysia have doubled since January 2022 due to the African Swine Fever outbreak, rising from RM750 to RM1,780 per 100kg by May 2025.
ST PHOTO: LU WEI HOONG
Malaysia's first outbreak of ASF was detected in wild boar and backyard pigs in Sabah in February 2021, according to a World Organisation for Animal Health alert issued in early March that year. This was followed by subsequent discoveries of ASF in wild boar herds in Perak and Pahang in December 2021, Malaysia's Department of Veterinary Services (DVS) said then.
To curb the spread, the first large-scale culling of infected domestic pigs in Peninsular Malaysia took place in Paya Mengkuang , Melaka, in December 2021.
But the disease continued to spread, infecting swine in Negeri Sembilan, Perak, Pahang, Johor, and Penang, leading to a significant reduction in live pig production in these states. In response, Malaysia's DVS banned the interstate transportation of pigs to curb the spread of the infection, allowing only chilled pork to be transported between the Malaysian states.
Peninsular Malaysia saw a nearly 30 per cent drop in live pig production, from 1.37 million in 2021 to 990,736 in 2024. But Selangor, which was spared the earlier rounds of ASF, had a slight increase in production, rising from 227,840 in 2021 to 254,425 in 2024, according to livestock statistics from the Veterinary Department.
However , the severe ASF outbreak in Selangor since January 2025 has led to wider culling of livestock in Tanjung Sepat – which hosts 114, or more than a quarter, of the 401 licensed pig farms in Peninsular Malaysia.
A veterinarian in private practice with 46 years of experience in the pig-farming industry, who only wanted to be known as Mr Lim , told ST: 'The ASF mortality rate is high. A sow loses its appetite, develops purplish patches and eventually dies. Postmortem reveals internal bleeding, kidney haemorrhage and an enlarged spleen, growing up to 2 feet from its normal size of 1 foot.'
While the disease is not infectious to humans, he said no effective ASF vaccine has been developed for use in swine.
Said Mr Chow, 65, the pork sellers association chairman: 'Before the ASF outbreak, abattoirs operated six days a week. Now, it's down to just three. The severe shortage has pushed live pig prices from RM750 to RM1,780 per 100kg.'
The current shortfall is being filled by imported pork from Spain, the Netherlands, and Canada, but the lower import prices – about half that of fresh Malaysian pork – could reduce the demand for local pork, he added.
Representing 1,500 members, Mr Chow is scheduled to meet with the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security (MAFS) on May 20 to discuss expanding the list of approved pork-importing countries and implementing price controls.
Acknowledged the rising pork prices, MAFS Minister Mohamad Sabu said the ministry is considering pork sellers' requests to expand import sources to include Thailand, Brazil, and China, going beyond the current suppliers in Europe, Australia, the US, and the UK.
'For a long-term solution to ASF, MAFS urges all industry players to modernise their farms to achieve disease-free status. As this transformation requires significant investment, the ministry is prepared to support stakeholders through the process. A dialogue session will be held in due course,' Datuk Seri Mohamad said in a statement on May 17.
For now, the butcher known as Zhu Yok Fatt hopes that the ASF outbreak will be brought under control soon and pork supply will be stabilised in the Klang Valley area.
'If more pigs are bred in Tanjung Sepat, fresh pork prices will come down,' he said.
Lu Wei Hoong is Malaysia correspondent at The Straits Times, specialising in transport and politics.
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9 best personal loans in Singapore with lowest interest rates (June 2025), Money News
If you're in urgent need of money, but are too paiseh to borrow from your family and friends, your best bet is probably a personal loan. With a personal loan, you borrow cash from a bank or financial institution and pay them back in fixed instalments over an agreed period. But you'd typically need to meet a couple of eligibility requirements before you get it approved. Stuff like your income and credit history. In this article, I'll break down the key terms you'll come across frequently while browsing loan listings — plus highlight the best personal loans currently available in Singapore. Psst… I'm also going to let you know about the great promotions you can capitalise on if you apply for some of these personal loans with MoneySmart. So keep reading! Note: Interest rates are approximate and may vary based on individual credit profiles and prevailing market conditions. Please consult the respective banks for the most accurate and up-to-date information. Best personal loans in Singapore (June 2025) At a glance: Best personal loans in Singapore What do interest rate, EIR and processing fees mean? DBS/ POSB Personal Loan Trust Instant Loan CIMB Personal Loan UOB Personal Loan Standard Chartered CashOne HSBC Personal Loan GXS FlexiLoan Citibank Quick Cash with Ready Credit (New Customers) OCBC ExtraCash Personal Loan Which personal loan should you choose? Term loan vs credit line-which should you choose? Being in debt is not fun 1. At a glance: Best personal loans in Singapore (June 2025) Here are the current starting interest rates on offer from the most popular personal loan providers in Singapore. We'll use the example of a Singapore citizen earning $3,500 a month, who wants to borrow $10,000 and repay it over three years. Personal loan Interest rate and Effective Interest Rate (EIR) Processing fee Monthly repayment Eligibility DBS/POSB Personal Loan 1.99% (EIR 4.17%) 1% $294 – Singaporean/PR– Foreigners with existing Cashline and/or Credit Card account– Min. $20,000 annual income – Existing DBS/POSB customers Trust Instant Loan 2.22% (EIR: 4.22%) 0% $296 – Singapore Citizen/PR: $30,000– Foreigner: $60,000 – Must have a Trust credit card CIMB Personal Loan 2.68% (EIR 5.06%) 0% $319 – Singapore Citizen/PR: $20,000 – Malaysian (residing in SG): $30,000 UOB Personal Loan 2.88% (EIR 5.43%) 0% $302 – Singapore Citizen/PR: $30,000 – UOB Credit Card/CashPlus customer Standard Chartered CashOne 1.90% (EIR: 3.63%) 0% $294 – Singapore Citizen/PR: $30,000 – Foreigner (with EP): $90,000 GSX FlexiLoan 2.88% (EIR 5.45%) 0% $303 – Singapore Citizen/PR: $20,000 HSBC Personal Loan 2.20% (EIR: 4.00%) 0% $296 – Singaporean/PR: $30,000 (salaried workers)$40,000 (self-employed or commission-based workers) – Foreigner (with EP): $60,000 Citi Quick Cash with Ready Credit (New Customers) 3.45% (EIR: 6.50%) 0% $306 – Singaporean/PR: $30,000– Foreigner: $42,000 Applicable to new Citi Credit Card or Citibank Ready Credit account holders only. OCBC's ExtraCash Personal Loan 5.42% (EIR 10.96%) For income $20,000 – $30,000 p.a.: $100. For income above $30,000 p.a. : $200 or 2 per cent of the approved loan amount, whichever is higher $323 – Singaporean/PR above 21 years old: $20,000 – Foreigner above 21 years old: $45,000 2. Hold up. What do interest rate, EIR and processing fees mean? There's quite a bit of jargon here, so let's go through some points of confusion that may be swimming around in your head. Interest rates Notice that interest rates are quoted as "from X per cent" instead of being stated simply as "X per cent"? That's because personal loans are pretty dynamic as they all depend on factors such as your credit history and the loan amount. EIR EIR stands for Effective Interest Rate. Taking into consideration other fees (like processing fee; see next point) and the loan repayment schedule, it is a more accurate reflection of the cost of borrowing than the advertised interest rates. Processing fees This is the main hidden cost of personal loans and is worth highlighting. The processing fee is deducted from the principal — meaning, for a $10,000 loan with a $100 (or one per cent) processing fee, you get only $9,900 in cash. As a borrower, you might not "feel" it, but it does eat into your funds and increase the cost of borrowing. Now, let's walk through the nine featured personal loan packages. 3. DBS/POSB Personal Loan The DBS/POSB personal loan is only open to existing DBS/POSB customers. If you already have (1) a DBS/POSB Cashline account or have a DBS/POSB credit card and (2) credit your salary into a DBS or POSB deposit account, you can get the cash disbursed instantly. The loan is open to Singaporeans and PRs, as well as foreigners with DBS/POSB Cashline or credit card accounts. You must be aged 21 to 70 years with a minimum annual income of $20,000 — this opens up DBS/POSB personal loans to include slightly older groups of people and lower income earners compared to other banks. Like the Standard Chartered CashOne loan, you don't need to earn a regular salary to be eligible for this loan. Self-employed individuals and commission earners can also apply. DBS's personal loan promises interest rates as low as 1.99 per cent. There is a processing fee of one per cent, bringing the lowest possible EIR to 4.17 per cent. Loan tenures of six months to five years are available. Do note that these are the lowest possible rates and the actual interest rate depends on what DBS is prepared to extend to you. Note that there's also a three per cent unlimited cashback deal if you apply now. 4. Trust Instant Loan (Trust personal loan) When they say "instant", they mean it. Trust's personal loan, called Trust Instant Loan, disburses cash to you in just 60 seconds with the Trust credit card. This is how it works: You have a Trust credit card with a certain available credit balance at any one point in time. The Trust Instant Loan converts a portion of that balance into cash for you. Spend that cash on anything you want! The Trust Instant Loan is open to all Trust customers. Given how it works, as I just explained above, you do need to have a Trust credit card to be eligible. But this isn't a bad thing — for one thing, it makes repaying the loan seamless. Each month, you'll see your loan instalment charged to your credit card bill. To pay the instalment, simply pay through your credit card statement via your Trust App. From now till June 15, the Trust Instant Loan is also extra affordable with an interest rate starting from just 2.22 per cent p.a. (EIR from 4.22 per cent p.a.) — down 0.27 per cent. They also charge no processing fees, annual fees, or the like. However, there is a three per cent early repayment fee on your remaining loan amount if you repay the rest of your loan early. The Trust Instant Loan is open to Singapore Citizens, PRs, and Foreigners aged 21 to 65 years old. You could be a salaried worker, commission-based, or self-employed as long as your annual income is $30,000 for Singaporeans or $60,000 for Foreigners. Trust Instant Loan x MoneySmart promotion Snag awesome welcome gifts when you apply for a Trust Instant Loan with MoneySmart. Up to $1,200 cash via PayNow Apple iPhone 16 Plus (worth $1,399) Apple iPad Air (worth $899) Sony PS5 (SLIM) Digital (worth $669) Nintendo Switch OLED (worth $439) PLUS $10 FairPrice E-Vouchers from Trust (if you sign up with referral code MONEYSMT). New-to-Trust customers only. T&Cs apply. 5. CIMB Personal Loan The CIMB Personal Loan is another personal loan that comes with no processing fees. Its interest rate comes in at 2.68 per cent p.a. (EIR 5.06 per cent p.a.), making it the next lowest after Trust. You also get flexible loan tenure options of 12, 24, 36, 48 or 60 months. On top of low interest rates, CIMB is also offering a cashback promotion to sweeten the deal. The cashback you'll earn offsets some of the interest you'll be charged, up to a maximum of $2,800 cashback. Tenure Approved Loan Amount Cashback Earned 1 or 2 years Any amount No cashback 3, 4 or 5 years <$10,000 $10,000 – < $15,000 $50 $15,000 – < $30,000 $300 $30,000 – < $50,000 $600 $50,000 – < $80,000 $750 $80,000 – < $150,000 $1,000 $150,000 – < $190,000 $2,000 > = $190,000 $2,800 As far as eligibility goes, the CIMB Personal Loan is fairly standard. It's open to Singapore Citizens and Singapore PRs with a minimum annual income of $20,000, and to Malaysians earning at least $30,000 a year. You'll also need to be 21 to 70 years old — that maximum age sits between the Citibank and DBS personal loan age limit. There's no prerequisite to have a CIMB Bank Account or CIMB credit card before you apply, so go ahead as long as you meet the criteria above. Like any personal loan, you'll incur a penalty fee if you try to repay it early. For the CIMB Personal Loan, this fee is three per cent of the outstanding loan amount or $250, whichever is higher. CIMB Personal Loan x MoneySmart promotion Apply for a CIMB Personal Loan via MoneySmart and get gifts like: Up to $1,220 cash via PayNow Apple MacBook Air (13-inch)(worth $1,499) Apple iPhone 16e (worth $949) Sony PS5 (SLIM) Digital (worth $669) T&Cs apply. 6. UOB Personal Loan UOB's personal loan is only open to existing UOB credit cardholders or CashPlus customers who are Singaporeans, PRs aged 21 to 65. You'll also need to be a salaried worker earning at least $30,000 a year. Not an existing UOB customer? You'll have to get a UOB credit card or CashPlus to apply for a UOB Personal Loan. The interest rate is from 2.88 per cent p.a. for loan periods of 12, 24, 36, 48 or 60 months, with a 5.43 per cent p.a. EIR. While UOB used to only waive processing fees for loan periods 24 months and up, processing fees are now waived for all loan periods. If you're an existing UOB customer, you can get instant approval when you apply for your personal loan online. To further sweeten the deal, from now till June 30, you can get up to two per cent cash rebates for approved personal loans worth least $15,000 with repayment period between of three to five years. UOB Personal Loan x MoneySmart promotion (Gift fulfilment as fast as four weeks) Thinking of applying for a UOB Personal Loan? Apply via MoneySmart now to get a $500 bonus on top of gifts such as: Up to $1,200 cash via PayNow Apple iPhone 16 Plus (worth $1,399) T&Cs apply. 7. Standard Chartered CashOne Standard Chartered CashOne personal loan is open to Singapore Citizens, PRs and foreigners with a Singapore Employment Pass aged 21 and above. The barriers to entry for the Standard Chartered CashOne personal loan have gone up slightly. The minimum annual income requirements are now $30,000 for Singaporeans and PRs and $90,000 for foreigners. You also don't necessarily need to be a salaried worker to apply — Standard Chartered is cool with salaried employees, variable/commission-based employees, and even self-employed individuals. You can apply for this personal loan online by signing in through Singpass and receive your loan disbursement within 15 minutes — it's super easy. There's no need to be an existing Standard Chartered customer to get this personal loan. So, it's fast — but is it also affordable? Standard Chartered charges an initial annual fee of $199 (deducted from your approved loan) for any loan tenure between 1 to 5 years. From the second year onwards, you won't have to pay any more annual fees — UNLESS you miss any instalments, in which case you will pay $50 in annual fees for that year. Plus the late payment fee of $100. If you pay your full monthly instalment on time for the first 6 months, you won't have to worry about late penalties. After that, you'll have the flexibility to pay just the minimum-whichever is lower: $50 or one per cent of your approved monthly principal. So taking the $199 annual fee into consideration, I'd say CashOne is more worthwhile if you're taking out a big loan. Interest rates are advertised as starting from 1.90 per cent, working out to an EIR of 3.63 per cent and above. In reality, interest rates are personalised, so yours might differ from this example. Take up this loan now and you'll also stand a chance to win in Standard Chartered's exciting giveaway-featuring prizes like a getaway for two to Paris and sleek Samsonite luggage. Standard Chartered CashOne x MoneySmart promotion Apply for a Standard Chartered CashOne loan via MoneySmart to get attractive gifts like: Up to $1,200 cash via PayNow Apple MacBook Air (13-inch)(worth $1,499) Apple iPad (11-inch)(worth $899) Sony PS5 (SLIM) Digital Edition (worth $669) T&Cs apply. 8. HSBC Personal Loan HSBC's personal loan is open to Singaporeans and PRs aged 21 to 65 years old with an annual income of $30,000 and above for salaried workers, and $40,000 for self-employed or commission-based workers. Foreigners must earn at least $60,000 a year and have an employment pass with at least 6 months' validity. The best part about HSBC's personal loan is its long loan tenure of up to seven years — currently the longest loan tenure in Singapore. So if you need to borrow a large sum but can't afford high monthly repayments, HSBC's personal loan is definitely one you should consider. HSBC has dropped their promotional interest rates even further now starting from 2.20 per cent p.a. with an EIR from 4.00 per cent p.a. with no processing fees. Remember, however, that actual interest rates will vary from person to person. Another factor to consider is that HSBC's personal loan comes with an annual fee of $120, and only the first year's fee is waived. Don't miss your payments, or you'll be subject to a $120 late payment fee. HSBC Personal Loan x MoneySmart promotion Ready to take an HSBC Personal Loan? Apply via MoneySmart to score gifts such as: Up to $1,000 cash via PayNow 12,345 SmartPoints (Use points to redeem epic gifts from the rewards store) T&Cs apply. 9. GXS FlexiLoan GXS is a digital bank that's 60 per cent owned by Grab and 40 per cent owned by Singtel. Now, don't be dissuaded by the idea of a digital bank. Like any regular bank, GXS offers customers a personal loan-and a pretty good one at that. 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GXS FlexiLoan x MoneySmart promotion (Gift fulfilment as fast as 2-3 months) Apply for a GXS FlexiLoan via MoneySmart and get your hands on a bonus $500 cash along with some incredible welcome gifts: Up to $1,200 cash Apple MacBook Air (13-inch)(worth $1,499) T&Cs apply. 10. Citibank Quick Cash with Ready Credit (New Customers) I'm going to preface this by saying that the 3.45 per cent (EIR from 6.5 per cent) interest rate for the Citi Quick Cash personal loan is only available to customers who are completely new to Citibank loans. If you already have a Citibank loan, you'll be given a higher interest rate. The plus point for this one is definitely the ease of getting your funds. You'll be easily able to convert the credit balance on your Citi Credit Card or Citibank Ready Credit account into cash. Just log into the Citi Mobile App, key in the amount of cash you need and you can get the funds pretty much instantly. Citi Quick Cash is open to Singapore Citizens and PRs (salaried or self-employed) with a minimum annual income of $30,000, and foreigners with an annual income of at least $42,000. The eligible age range is 21 to 65 years. With Citibank's Quick Cash personal loan, you can choose a tenure of 12, 24, 36, 48, or 60 months-all with zero processing fees. You'll get a 3.56 per cent interest rate on Citibank's personal loan with a shorter one-year tenure, or 3.45 per cent if you intend to extend your loan repayment to 3 years. While the interest rates differ according to tenure period, you'll get an EIR of 6.5 per cent for all. That said, don't take our word for it. Rates are customised, so what you get might not be exactly the same as the above screenshot. Citibank Quick Cash with Ready Credit x MoneySmart promotion Apply for a Citibank Quick Cash with Ready Credit Loan today and enjoy $50 cash via PayNow 500 SmartPoints T&Cs apply. 11. OCBC ExtraCash Personal Loan While the OCBC ExtraCash Personal Loan has the highest interest rates (from 5.42 per cent p.a. / EIR from 10.96 per cent p.a.) on this list, it does come with some perks that might make it a solid choice for some. If you need a large loan, you can borrow up to six times your monthly income, with fixed repayments spread over 12 to 60 months. Like many of the other loans mentioned, it offers fast disbursement when you sign up via Myinfo. Plus, it has a relatively low entry requirement — just $20,000 in annual income for Singaporeans and PRs. You'll also be able to easily see a full breakdown of all your outstanding payments via internet banking. However, punctual repayments are a must. A late payment will set you back $80, and if you decide to restructure or repay early, you'll be charged a three per cent fee on your outstanding balance. So, be sure of your loan tenure before committing! Cheapest personal loans – Standard Chartered CashOne personal loan– Trust Instant Loan – DBS or POSB Personal Loans – HSBC Personal Loan Personal loans with fastest disbursement – Trust Instant Loan– UOB Personal Loan– GXS FlexiLoan – CIMB Personal Loan Personal loan with longest repayment tenure – HSBC personal loan Personal loans to consider if you want to take a huge amount – Standard Chartered CashOne personal loan – OCBC ExtraCash Personal Loan Whatever personal loan package you choose, opt for the smallest loan amount and shortest term you can comfortably manage. This will keep your interest payments to a minimum. Remember that the actual interest rate a bank offers you will depend on factors like your credit history, how much you want to borrow and for how long. So if you don't get offered the lowest advertised interest rates with one bank, you might want to compare that with what the other banks are willing to offer you. There are certain groups of individuals that may have a harder time taking out a personal loan. Older individuals: If you're above 65 years old, DBS/POSB and CIMB will let you apply for personal loans up to the age of 70 years. Those earning an annual income below $30,000: Most of the loans I've listed above have a minimum requirement of about $20,000 annual income, so you have plenty of options if this pertains to you. Commission-based workers or self-employed individuals: Citibank Quick Cash, HSBC Personal Loan, DBS Personal Loan and Standard Chartered CashOne are good options. Some other banks may only accept salaried workers. 13. Term loan vs credit line — which should you choose? While researching personal loans, you might have come across many different loan types, some of which do not seem to fit what we described above. MoneySmart lists only term personal loans, which is when you borrow a fixed sum with a fixed repayment plan that you agree on before you see the cash. We usually recommend these loans because they have much lower interest rates. You can pay back slowly and steadily at a pace comfortable to your financial situation. Many banks also offer a personal line of credit — sometimes called a credit line, revolving loan, or even "flexible repayment loan". This is a pre-approved amount of money you can cash out in part or whole, but you need to repay it ASAP or else face sky-high interest rates. Don't fall for it unless you're absolutely confident you can pay the money back immediately. These days, most banks base their personal loans on either your personal line of credit or credit card limit. So you will need either a credit card or credit line to get the loan. However, it is still considered a term loan if it comes with a structured repayment plan. But before you sign up, understand that your credit cards with this bank will be as good as dead because you'll have effectively "spent" your credit on a cash loan. 14. Being in debt is not fun… But it can be prevented. If you must take out a loan, channel all your energies into paying it off on time to avoid late charges. In the meantime, re-examine your income and budget, making a note of everything you spend on, so you won't have to resort to loans again. Ideally, you should draw up a budget that gives you enough leeway to set aside some cash for the future without starving to death. You should also build up an emergency fund worth a few months' expenses. If you're hit with unforeseen circumstances, you can dip into this fund instead of having to take a loan. It's also a good idea to know what types of insurance you need. We recommend hospitalisation insurance at a bare minimum, and life insurance if you have dependents. Being sufficiently insured ensures that you don't get hit with huge bills if the unexpected happens. [[nid:718015]] This article was first published in MoneySmart .
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