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Straits Times
15-05-2025
- Business
- Straits Times
Malaysians switch to cheaper alternatives as pork prices hit 2-year high due to African swine fever
African Swine Fever is the primary bane of the pig-rearing industry and the leading cause behind the sky-rocketing prices of pork in the markets in Malaysia. PHOTO: ST FILE GEORGETOWN - With pork prices skyrocketing to their highest in two years, more people are turning to eating fish or chicken and even mutton and beef. Housewife Allyssa Lim, 48, wants to ensure her family has a meat dish for dinner every day, as pork used to be a staple in their meals. 'Now that pork costs so much, we either eat less of it or opt for fish instead,' she said. 'Fish is not only fresh but also a healthier option.' Restaurant owner Jacob Quah, 38, said pork has now become a premium item on his menu as customers are choosing more budget-friendly alternatives like chicken and fish. 'I have to maintain a commitment to my local pork supplier, but with the rising costs, I have no choice but to raise the prices of my pork dishes. 'To offer more affordable options, we've expanded our menu to include more fish and chicken dishes, as well as mutton and beef choices that customers have responded to positively,' he said. Mr Pang, a butcher in Jalan Burma, said many in the trade have increased their stock of imported pork. 'Imported pork, such as that from Spain, is about RM30 (S$9.05) per kg, while local pork now goes for around RM40 per kg. 'About 60 per cent of our stock is now imported, and most of it is supplied to restaurants. Some customers have also turned away from pork altogether,' the 55-year-old said during a recent meeting 'They have chosen alternatives like beef, mutton, chicken or fish, which generally have more stable prices.' Checks at several markets found that popular cuts, such as pork belly, spare ribs and lean meat from local suppliers, are now priced between RM36 and RM46 per kg. The same parts from imported sources are priced between RM33 and RM39 per kg. Another butcher, Ms Fiona Ng, 32, also increased her stock of imported pork. 'In the past, imported pork was less preferred because customers valued the freshness of the local variety. But the price of local pork has increased three times since the beginning of this year. 'Currently, a whole pig from local farms is priced at RM1,780 per 100kg, compared to RM1,600 per 100kg just in 2024,' she said, adding that the steep increase has cost them about 20 per cent of their customers.' According to farmers, African Swine Fever is the primary bane of the pig-rearing industry and the leading cause behind the sky-rocketing prices of pork in the market. A 2023 outbreak had caused the number of farms in Penang to shrink by 25 per cent as farmers were forced to cull infected livestock, said Penang Pig Farmers Association chairman Wong Fu Sheng. 'There used to be about 160 farms, but now there are only about 120 still in operation,' said Mr Wong. 'To avoid over-crowding of pigs that could heighten the spread of the virus during an outbreak, the remaining farms are also rearing fewer animals.' Besides Penang, thousands of pigs had to be culled in Selangor and Malacca due to the ASF outbreak, said the Agriculture and Food Security Ministry, which caused supplies of pork to drop and prices to rise. THE STAR/ASIA NEWS NETWORK Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
The Star
14-05-2025
- Business
- The Star
Disease behind sky-high pork prices
Soaring prices: Butcher Pang, 55, putting up the prices of pork, of which the imported ones are cheaper than local supply. — CHAN BOON KAI/The Star GEORGE TOWN: African Swine Fever (ASF) is the primary bane of the pig-rearing industry and the leading cause behind the sky-rocketing prices of pork in the market, say farmers. A 2023 outbreak had caused the number of farms in Penang to shrink by 25% as farmers were forced to cull infected livestock, said Penang Pig Farmers Association chairman Wong Fu Sheng. 'There used to be about 160 farms, but now there are only about 120 still in operation,' Wong told The Star. 'To avoid over-crowding of pigs that could heighten the spread of the virus during an outbreak, the remaining farms are also rearing fewer animals. 'ASF remains the industry's biggest challenge, as many farmers continue to recover from financial losses after their pigs were culled to contain the virus. 'It takes about a year to rear a pig from birth to slaughter,' he added. Besides Penang, thousands of pigs had to be culled in Selangor and Melaka due to the ASF outbreak, said the Agriculture and Food Security Ministry, which caused supplies of pork to drop and prices to rise. It was reported that a whole local pig now costs about RM1,800 per 100kg, compared to RM1,300 to RM1,400 per 100kg last year. Wong, who operates a farm in Valdor, where most of Penang's pig farms are located, said half of them have closed down. 'There used to be about 40 farms here, but only about 20 remain,' he added. Bukit Tambun assemblyman Goh Choon Aik, whose constituency is believed to house the highest concentration of pig farms in Penang, said the last outbreak had decimated the local population. 'Since the outbreak of ASF, the pig population has dropped significantly, with only 20,000 to 30,000 pigs left, compared to around 90,000 at their peak. Rising operating costs, particularly the price of feed, have also contributed to higher pork prices. 'Maize used to cost RM800 per tonne before the Covid-19 pandemic. At the height of the pandemic, the cost soared to RM2,000 per tonne,' Wong said. While imported pork has been considered a short-term solution to address supply shortages, he urged consumers to be cautious and verify the source of their meat. 'Our local farms are strictly monitored, with many having transitioned to closed farming systems to tackle environmental pollution, reduce health risks and meet regulatory requirements. 'We need to be aware that there are some countries whose pork products have been banned by health authorities. 'Consumers need to check and ensure that their pork is safe,' he said. Data from the Department of Veterinary Services showed that as of 2023, there were 401 pig farms in Peninsular Malaysia and another 118 in East Malaysia.
