9 November 2009] Two large companies are set to bring in the bulk of chicken imports that will be allowed in by the Philippine government for the holiday season. However, an agriculture official said that whether they will be able to bring in the products in time is still a question because as yet, he does not know of a company that is already moving to bring in their share of the allowable imports. The government is ready to lift the special safeguard duty on chicken imports to allow meat processors to stock up in preparation for the holiday season but because there is little demand, there are fears that when the imports arrive, poultry raisers already reeling under the impact of successive storms that hit the country in the last couple of months would feel the brunt. One poultry trader said that in Bulacan alone some 2.5 million broilers were lost after the typhoon hit the country in late September, and what the market needs are more broilers to meet the demand in the first and second quarters.

Broiler raisers set to import 150,000 hatching eggs
[30 November 2009] The United Broilers and Raisers Association and the Philippine Association of Broiler Integrators have agreed to bring in 150,000 hatching eggs from Malaysia to fill a temporary shortage in chick production that resulted from the typhoons that hit the country, said UBRA Chairman Gregorio San Diego. He said local chicken production is currently at 23000 tonnes and this will be supplemented by an additional importation of 5000 tonnes by December. Mr San Diego said that imported leg quarters, which make up the bulk of the imports, are already showing up in wet markets.

Philippines ban poultry from Czech Republic
[8 December 2009] The Philippines has placed a temporary ban on imports of poultry products from the Czech Republic after the Office Internationale des Epizooties confirmed an outbreak of a “low pathogenic avian influenza” in Jihocesky. Agriculture Undersecretary Bernie Fondevilla said that the ban is necessary to protect human health and the poultry industry in the Philippines, which continues to be AI-free since the highly pathogenic H5N1 AI strain re-emerged in Asia in 2003.  The current ban calls for the immediate suspension of the processing, evaluation of the application and issuance of Veterinary Import Clearances to all imports covering these products from the banned area, as well as the halt and confiscation of all shipments of live birds, poultry and poultry product entering the country from the Czech Republic.

Bounty to expand ‘Chooks to Go’ outlets
[17 February 2010] Bounty Agro Ventures Inc is set to spend PHP 300 million (USD 6.5 million) to expand its 'Chooks to Go' roasted chicken outlets. There are currently some 600 outlets in the Philippines and Bounty President and General Manager Ronald Mascariñas said the company is planning to open 900 more by the end of 2010. Bounty quietly entered the roasted chicken market in 2008, and Mr Mascariñas said that the company is exploring the possibility of setting up Chooks to Go outlets in other Asean countries like Vietnam, Cambodia and Indonesia.

 SMFI to grow chicken exports by 20%
[19 February 2010] San Miguel Foods Inc (SMFI) is looking at increasing its chicken exports this year by 20%, said SMFI President Rita Imelda Palabyab. The country's main export market remains Japan, where Ms Palabyab said the Philippines is ranked 3rd in raw chicken exports after the US and Brazil. She pointed out that Philippine chicken products have earned a reputation in Japan as being “tastier and more tender because we use a smaller bird than Brazil or the US.” Last year, SMFI, which is currently the only Philippine company exporting products to Japan, exported some 6000 tonnes of yakitori-style chicken mostly to that country. Ms Palabyab also addressed the threat of the AFTA which has brought tariff rates on chicken and livestock products down to zero but said SMFI has been preparing for it. 
 
 
 

Philipppine poultry producers call for suggested retail prices
[15 March 2010] The Philippine government should issue suggested retail prices (SRP) for chicken, the United Broiler Raisers Association (UBRA) urged. UBRA President Gregorio San Diego Jr said that such SRPs would help temper the high retail prices of chicken in the country despite the continuing drop in farm prices, which in a week fell from PHP 68 (USD 1.48)/kg to PHP 58 (USD 1.26)/kg. Meanwhile, retail prices of whole chicken remain around PHP 130-140 (USD 2.83-3.05)/kg in wet markets, and even higher in supermarkets and meat shops which sell cuts as well as whole chicken. Mr San Diego pointed out that consumers who are already cutting down on their spending are being discouraged from buying chicken because of the high price. He has calld for an SRP of between PHP 110-120 (USD 2.40-2.62)/kg for whole chicken.

Philippines ban poultry products from Denmark municipality
[1 April 2010] The Philippine Department of Agriculture (DA) has banned imports of poultry and poultry products from Naestved Municipality in Denmark following an outbreak of low pathogenic avian influenza there. Under an administrative order, the DA said it is prohibiting the entry of domestic and wild birds as well poultry meat, day-old chicks, eggs and semen from the Naestved. Last year, the Philippines imported some 32 tonnes of poultry and livestock products worth USD 335,000 from Denmark. The DA said the ban is necessary to protect the local poultry population which has remained free from the AI virus since its resurgence in Asia in 2003.

Inoza to invest PHP 584 million in new farm
[27 April 2010] A new poultry farm in the Philippines will invest PHP 583.9 million (USD 13.17 million) to set up a hatchery and a broiler farm in Central Luzon. Inoza Development Corp, a sister company of one of the country’s biggest integrators, Bounty Fresh Food Inc (BFFI), has been granted tax incentives by the government for the ventures. Inoza expects to hatch up to 40 million day-old chicks annually and grow 6.3 million heads a year, with BFFI purchasing the output.

Imports, smuggling continue to plague Philippine poultry industry
[3 May 2010] Imports of leg quarters and the entry of smuggled poultry meat continue to plague the Philippine poultry industry. At the contract signing for the Philippine Poultry Show, United Broiler Raisers Association (UBRA) Chairman Gregorio San Diego said that of the current inventory of frozen poultry of 80,000 tonnes, more than half are imported. The landed cost of imported leg quarters, which make up the bulk of the imports, is PHP 65 (USD 1.45)/kg while local production cost is PHP 70 (USD 1.56)/kg. Mr San Diego said live prices have been very volatile, dropping by PHP 8 (USD 0.18)/kg at one time, while retail prices have remained high. Meanwhile, demand for broilers and chicken meat have not gone up as expected even with the national elections.

Philippines bans poultry from Italy
[27 May 2010] The Philippines has placed a temporary ban on birds and poultry products from Lombardy, Italy after a low pathogenic avian influenza (serotype H7N3) outbreak was detected in two holdings there. Agriculture Secretary Bernie Fondevilla issued a memorandum ordering the ban on importation of domestic and wild birds, including day-old chicks, eggs and semen and suspending immediately the processing, evaluation of the application and issuance of Veterinary Quarantine Clearance (VQC). Veterinary and quarantine inspectors have also been ordered to stop and confiscate all shipments of poultry and poultry products into the country originating from Italy.

Philippine chicken production up 1.81% in Q1
[31 May 2010] Philippine chicken production reached 332,090 tonnes for the first quarter of 2010, figures from the Bureau of Agricultural Statistics showed. This is just 1.81% higher than its yearago level of 326,180 tonnes. In terms of value, the sector grossed PHP 31.06 billion (USD 667.32 million), up more than 19% from last year’s PHP 26.09 billion (USD 560.5 million). This was attributed to the higher farm output and higher prices. Average farm price of chicken was pegged at PHP 93.54/kg (USD 2.01), almost 17% higher than the PHP 79.99/kg (USD 1.72) during the same period last year. Meanwhile chicken egg production rose 4.43% to 94,560 tonnes from 90,550 tonnes in 2009, thanks to the increased inventory of layers in Central Luzon, CALABARZON, Central Visayas and Northern Mindanao. Valuewise, the industry grossed PHP 8.5 billion (USD 182.62 million), up 3.11% from PHP 8.24 billion (USD 177.11 million) a year ago, while prices were at PHP 89.90/kg (USD 1.93), down 1.26% from PHP 91.05/kg (USD 1.86).

Chicken Industry Performance Report
January-December 2009
The country’s total chicken population as of January 1, 2010 was 158.93 million birds, or merely 0.17 percent higher than last year’s headcount of 158.66 million birds. Broiler inventory dropped by 8.36 percent, while layer population posted an increase of 13.72 percent. Native chicken inventory was higher by 2.05 percent.


In 2009, total chicken production grew by 1.53 percent. Lower growth in chicken output was due to the effects of several typhoons that hit the country during the 4th quarter. Chicken egg production went up by 5.04 percent. This increment came from commercial farms which contributed around 77.47 percent of the total egg output. Chicken and chicken egg production contributed around 13.68 percent to the total gross output of agriculture in 2009.


Gross value of chicken and chicken egg production in 2009 at current prices grew by 10.05 percent and 11.66 percent, respectively. These gains were attributed to the increases in output and farm prices during the year. (PAR Jan-Dec. 2009).

Philippines bans poultry imports from Netherlands
[16 June 2010] The Philippine Department of Agriculture (DA) has issued a temporary ban on poultry and wild bird imports from Noord-Brabant, the Netherlands after the confirmation of an outbreak of low pathogenic avian influenza (LPAI) in free-ranger layer hens in the province. Although the Netherlands is not a traditional source of poultry products for the Philippines, the DA has ordered veterinary quarantine officers and inspectors to halt and confiscate all shipments of poultry and poultry products into the country originating from the Netherlands. The Philippines remain the only major poultry producing country is Southeast Asia to be free of the H5N1 strain of the avian influenza and is working hard to keep the virus out of the country.

Vitarich seeks way to pay for debts
[15 June 2010] Philippine feed manufacturer and poultry producer Vitarich Corporation is considering three options to raise funds to pay its PHP 3.2 billion (USD 68.5 million) debt. These options are the sale of non-core assets, debt-to-equity conversion or an increase in the company’s authorised capital stock. Under the debt-to-equity conversion plan, Vitarich will issue some 90 million worth of shares to creditors that might be interested in the scheme. These proposals have been approved by the company’s board, and will be presented for approval at its stock holders meeting later in June. Creditors have also not yet approved the plan. Lower sales have pulled down Vitarich’s total revenues by 30% during the first three months this year to only PHP 502.3 million (USD 10.75 million).

Philippines lift ban on poultry imports from Turkey
[17 June 2010] The Philippine Department of Agriculture has lifted the ban on poultry products from Turkey following the confirmation by the Office Internationale des Epizooties that the latter is now free of the H5N1 avian influenza (AI) virus. Agriculture Secretary Bernie Fondevilla issued an order saying that “based on the evaluation of the Bureau of Animal industry, the risk of contamination from importing poultry and poultry products from Turkey is negligible.”  the order read. Turkey reported its first outbreak of H5N1 AI in October 2006, and the OIE reports that the “stamping out, including disinfection of all affected establishments, was completed on March 22, 2008." Although Turkey is not a traditional source of imported poultry for the Philippines, the Philippine government can now start processing import permits for the importation of wild birds and poultry products from Turkey.