Hanoi (VNA) – Vietnam had imported nearly 25,300 tonnes pork by March 15, a rise of 205 percent over thesame period last year, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development has reported.

Pork imports aimed to make upfor the shortage in supply and cool off skyrocketing pork prices in the countrywhich were caused by the African swine fever.  

Pork was mainly imported fromCanada (up 29 percent), Germany (19 percent), Poland (12 percent), Brazil (12 percent)and the US (5.5 percent).

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuchas recently asked the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development andrelevant agencies to implement measures to lower pork prices.

Minister of Agriculture andRural Development Nguyen Xuan Cuong asked big husbandry companies to reducelive hog price to 70,000 VND per kg (3 USD).

Vietnam is stepping up pigreproduction with the focus on ensuring biosafety standards. As a result, porksupply was expected to start to increase from this month.

The Animal Health Departmentalso urged the Ministry of Industry and Trade and relevant agencies to providesupport to Vietnamese firms in seeking sources to import pork in the context ofthe novel coronavirus outbreak which was hindering cross-border trade.

The ministry cited statisticsthat the global herd of pigs totalled 678 million in January, 12 percent lowerthan the same month of 2019.

Since the beginning of thisyear, Vietnam has also increased imports of buffalo meat (with 19,356 tonnes,up by 128 percent), beef (14,160 tonnes, up 217 percent) and poultry meat(48,300 tonnes, up by 86 percent)./.