TABLE OF CONTENTS

APAC News Update

Malaysia
• Denmark met with Ministry of Agriculture Malaysia

Philippines
• Philippines to import more meat amid projected increased output
• Philippines: New Project to Benefit 300,000 Farmers in Agrarian Reform Communities

Indonesia
• Partnership between Indonesian layer & corn farmers
• North Sulawesi seeks investment for chicken processing

Thailand
• CPF introduces new food standard to ensure food safety and quality

Vietnam
• Vissan helps to reduce pig oversupply
• Viet Nam to Export Poultry Products to Japan Soon

Nepal
• Oversupply lowers chicken meat prices in Nepal

India
• Poultry Producers Cash in on Beef Slaughter Ban; Chicken Demand Rises
• Kerala now self-sufficient in poultry meat production

China
• ‘Pandemic’ Possible with H7N9 Virus, Study Finds
• Increase Reported in H7N9 Avian Flu Cases in China
• MOFA: Taiwan to Continue Communication with US on Pork Issue

S. Korea
• Chicken Farms to Boycott Fried Chicken Chains

Australia
• Queensland’s Third Largest Egg Producer Gone Into Administration

EAME News Updates
• EU Pig Prices: South Preparing for Holiday Season
• Qatar Seeks to Import Eggs from Iran
• TAU SA Commends Agri Sector for 22% Growth
• Pig Prices Approaching Temporary Plateau
• Pork Tapeworm Linked to Epileps

Global News Update
• China Reports More High-path H7N9 Outbreaks; H5N8 in Other Countries
• Global Food Import Bill on the Rise Despite Stable Markets
• Global poultry industry records strong performance

APAC News Update

(Malaysia) Denmark met with Ministry of Agriculture Malaysia

Release Date: Monday, June 12, 2017

On 22 May Ambassador to Malaysia, Nicolai Ruge, and Minister Counsellor, Nina Talvela together with Bent Urup from Aqua Partners A/S and Michael Aaman from Veolia met with Ministry of Agriculture Malaysia.
They talked about the Danish Malaysian cooperation within agriculture, following the signing of the bilateral agreement MOU and further discussed how to create more and better seafood using aquaculture technology with minimal environmental impact discovery.

Source: ScandAsia

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(Philippines) Philippines to import more meat amid projected increased output

Release Date: Wenesday, June 14, 2017

Data from the Food and Agriculture Organization shows the Philippines is projected to increase its meat imports in 2017 by 6.97% or 552,000 tonnes from 516,000 purchased last year. This is despite FAO’s projection of an expanded Philippine meat production by 3.4% to 3.612 million tonnes this year from 3.493 mt recorded in 2016. This year’s local pork production is seen to reach 1.95 mt, 4.5% higher than that produced in 2016 and is expected to account for more than half, or 53.98% of the country’s total meat output.

Source: Asian Agribiz

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(Philippines) Philippines: New Project to Benefit 300,000 Farmers in Agrarian Reform Communities

Release Date: Saturday, June 10, 2017

Around 300,000 farmers and farm workers will benefit from a new government project designed to enhance the competitiveness of agrarian reform communities and nearby areas, and improve their access to markets.
To be implemented over five years by the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR), the Inclusive Partnerships for Agricultural Competitiveness (IPAC) Project will support the efforts of farmer organizations to improve productivity and the quality of products, as well as find more markets in order to raise farmers’ incomes. World Bank financing will comprise $99.3 million of the $231 million project, as approved today by the World Bank’s Board of Executive Directors, while the government and beneficiaries contribute $131 million and $28 million, respectively.

Source: 4 Traders

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(Indonesia) Partnership between Indonesian layer & corn farmers

Release Date: Wednesday, June 14, 2017

Indonesian layer farmers under the National Layer Farmers Forum (PLN) recently met Director General of Food Crops of the Ministry of Agriculture to discuss partnerships between layer and corn farmers. According to Ki Musbar, PLN President, this initiative is important for layer farmers to secure local corn amidst competition with feed millers. With their huge capital, feed millers dominate sourcing of local corn, leaving layer farmers behind. Through the partnership, “corn farmers will also get a market guarantee,” Mr Musbar added. If this pushes through, a pilot project will be set in East Java for layer farmers from Blitar who need around 1000 tonnes of corn per day, he added.

Source: Asian Agribiz

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(Indonesia) North Sulawesi seeks investment for chicken processing

Release Date: Monday, June 12, 2017

The poultry industry in North Sulawesi, Indonesia is growing, but slower than neighbouring province South Sulawesi. Broiler population in the province touched 8.3 million in 2016, an increase of 3.22% over the previous year, according to the Directorate General of Livestock and Animal Health’s data. Ferdinand Suryagiri, a poultry industry player in the province, told Asian Agribiz that with a population of around 5 million plus a growing tourism industry, North Sulawesi offers good opportunities for processing.  “There is no standard chicken processing plant in this province. Many fast food chains here use frozen carcases imported from Java,” said Mr Suryagiri, adding that he is looking for investors to set up a standard chicken processing plant. In addition, every month the province imports around 300 tonnes of frozen chicken carcases from East Java.

Source: Asian Agribiz

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(Thailand) CPF introduces new food standard to ensure food safety and quality

Release Date: Thursday, June 15, 2017

Thailand’s Charoen Pokphand Foods (CPF) has launched a CPF food standard project, aiming to build consistent quality and a food safety management system across its integrated feed-farm-food operations. Virachai Ratanabanchuen, Chief Operating Officer of CPF’s Chicken Business, said the standard will be established for a fully-integrated broiler business, including raw material sourcing, feedmill, hatchery, farm, slaughter house, and processing plant, to ensure that local and foreign customers’ needs are met. The standard will focus on two dimensions, which are laws and standards required for food industry and standards that differentiate its food business by creating advanced values. CPF has been collaborating with British Standard Institute on this project. “The project will strengthen CPF best practices,” Mr Virachai said.

Source: Asian Agribiz

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(Vietnam) Vissan helps to reduce pig oversupply

Release Date: Tuesday, June 13, 2017

Vietnam Meat Industries JSC (Vissan) has said that it will buy and slaughter an additional 200-300 pigs a day, raising its additional purchases over the normal number to 500-600 pigs a day to reduce oversupply and help farmers. Nguyen Ngoc An, General Director said the move has raised the total number of pigs slaughtered at its facilities to 1600-1800 a day. Nguyen Phuc Khoa, Chairman said Vissan has stopped pork imports since February and has increased local purchase. To stimulate demand, Vissan will continue to offer 10-15% discounts on certain pork products at Saigon Co-op outlets, Vinmart, Vinmart+ and other supermarkets, that sell its pork products. In addition, it will cut prices by 5-10% on some processed food.

Source: Asian Agribiz

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(Vietnam) Viet Nam to Export Poultry Products to Japan Soon

Release Date: Tuesday, June 13, 2017

The Koyu & Unitek Co Ltd is expecting to export the first batch of 40 tonnes of Vietnamese poultry products to Japan later this year.
According to Nguyen Van Quyen, head of the company’s export project board, the group is waiting for the Japanese veterinary agencies to grant the export licence.
It took two years for the firm to complete all the necessary procedures to export its poultry products to Japan, he said.
According to Viet Nam News, the biggest problem is the building of its own monitoring management programme, in line with the standards of the World Organisation for Animal Health and the Japanese veterinary organisations.

Source: The Poultry Site

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(Nepal) Oversupply lowers chicken meat prices in Nepal

Release Date: Wednesday, June 14, 2017

Chicken meat prices in Nepal has started to drop due to oversupply. According to the Nepal Chicken Sellers Association, the price of poultry meat reached USD 3.11/kg on June 2. Traders said that output has soared 30% due to climatic conditions. Chicken breeding usually speeds up in the summer, and the mortality rate is lower. The daily requirement of chicken in the Kathmandu Valley and adjoining districts is 300-350 tonnes. This accounts for 60% of the total demand across the country. Chitwan, Kavre, Hetauda, Nuwakot and Sindhuli are the largest suppliers of chicken to Kathmandu and other key cities. The poultry industry has an annual turnover of USD 328 million, according to the Central Bureau of Statistics.

Source: AsianAgribiz

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(India) Poultry Producers Cash in on Beef Slaughter Ban; Chicken Demand Rises

Release Date: Thursday, June 15, 2017

India’s poultry producers are posting record profits as feed costs have dropped to a five-year low and on rising chicken demand after cattle slaughtering restrictions were enacted in the majority Hindu country.
According to Business Standard, poultry company profits should continue to rise as raw material costs are set to remain depressed and demand rises due to the political fight over cattle slaughtering in India, home to the world’s biggest population of Hindus, who hold cows to be sacred, plays out in the courts.
On 31 May, the Madras High Court in the southern state of Tamil Nadu overturned a government ban on cattle trading for slaughter, an industry dominated by Muslims, but the case is set to go before the Supreme Court.
The cattle restrictions have been good for poultry producers as average broiler chicken prices in Mumbai have jumped 47 per cent so far in 2017 to 100 rupees ($1.55) a kg, while corn and soymeal prices, the main chicken feed ingredients, have fallen 7 per cent and 2 per cent respectively.

Source: The Poultry Site

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(India) Kerala now self-sufficient in poultry meat production

Release Date: Monday, June 12, 2017

India’s Kerala state is self-sufficient in poultry meat production. Almost 80% of the poultry meat in the state is been met from farms within the state, according to Binny Emmatty, State President of the Poultry Farmers and Traders Committee. He cited the entry of integrators, low investments, and minimal area to set up ventures, and self-employment finance options from banks as the reasons for the surge in poultry farming. “Demand for chicken meat is around 6000 tonnes a week,” he said. The business potential in this segment has attracted many and there are at present more than 300,000 poultry farms, employing nearly 800,000 people.
Source:AsianAgribiz

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(China) ‘Pandemic’ Possible with H7N9 Virus, Study Finds

Release Date: Thursday, June 15, 2017

A study published by a prestigious international medical journal has warned that mutations in the bird flu H7N9 virus could lead to a “pandemic” that could cause sickness and death around the world.
The study, led by Yu Hongjie and fellow researchers at Fudan University’s Public Health Institute in Shanghai, is based on information from all lab-confirmed human cases of H7N9 reported in the Chinese mainland as of late February.
The findings were published in Lancet Infectious Diseases this month.
A surge in human infections with the latest outbreak in China has prompted pandemic concerns. The study aimed to describe the epidemiological traits of the virus and to estimate the risks, according to Dr Yu.

Source: The Pig Site

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(China) Increase Reported in H7N9 Avian Flu Cases in China

Release Date: Tuesday, June 13, 2017

In its weekly report, Hong Kong’s Centre for Health Protection (CHP) last week confirmed 12 H7N9 avian flu cases reported from China’s mainland from 2 June through 8 June.
The previous 2 weeks saw 8 and 9 cases reported, respectively, so the update reflects a small uptick.
Nine of the 12 cases had known exposure to poultry, and one patient was listed as a 4-year-old. That case is notable because H7N9 infections in children are uncommon. Eight men and four women contracted the virus, and their ages range from 4 to 68 years. The patients reported symptom onset from 20 May to 3 June.

Source: The Poultry Site

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(China) MOFA: Taiwan to Continue Communication with US on Pork Issue

Release Date: Monday, June 12, 2017

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) said Friday that Taiwan will continue to communicate with the United States on the controversial issue of US pork imports and to explain factors such as food preferences and concerns in the local population.
The statement was made in response to the American Chamber of Commerce in Taipei (AmCham), which said in its 2017 Taiwan White Paper that Taiwan should make some concessions on outstanding trade issues, such as its current restrictions on the import of some American pork and beef products.
In its response, the foreign ministry said that among the major policies of the Taiwan government are its goals of pushing for bilateral free trade agreements and seeking to join regional economic integration.
If Taiwan and the US can forge a fair “bilateral trade agreement,” it will help strengthen mutually beneficial trade and economic ties between the two countries, the ministry said.
However, MOFA said, the professional assessments by the Ministry of Health and Welfare and the Council of Agriculture must be respected with regard to the ban on US pork containing traces of ractopamine, a leanness enhancing feed additive for livestock.

Source: The Pig Site

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(S. Korea) Chicken Farms to Boycott Fried Chicken Chains

Release Date: Wednesday, June 14, 2017

Chicken farmers are threatening to boycott fried chicken franchises, blaming BBQ, Kyochon and other chains for dampening poultry consumption by raising the prices of one of Korea’s favorite foods.
According to The Korea Times, the Korea Poultry Association (KPA), which represents the interests of chicken farmers, said Tuesday that its members will begin a nationwide boycott against fried chicken chains unless they stop charging consumers more.
“The prices of raw chicken have plummeted since the avian influenza outbreak began early last week in the southwestern part of the country,” KPA Chairman Lee Hong-jae said. “More consumers have become reluctant to eat poultry. This sagging consumption has reduced the prices of raw chicken.”
Mr Lee said the prices have dropped by nearly 20 percent over the past week as producers ship more ahead of the peak summer season, arguing that fried chicken franchises have made things go from bad to worse.

Source: The Poultry Site

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(Australia) Queensland’s Third Largest Egg Producer Gone Into Administration

Release Date: Wednesday, June 14, 2017

Queensland’s third largest egg producer, Darling Downs Fresh Eggs, has been placed in voluntary administration.
According to Business Insider, administrators Cor Cordis said it was too early to understand why they had been called in, but there had been problems with egg production.
“It appears that the business has suffered from a number of serious events that have affected its capacity to produce eggs,” Cor Cordis partner Darryl Kirk said.
“In addition, efforts to rebuild the bird stock to a critical mass have not materialised in time to prevent the necessity for the voluntary administration.”
The family-owned business, 200km west of Brisbane, has been run by RL Adams Pty Ltd for the last 16 years, and suffered a major setback two years when it was fined $250,000 after the consumer watchdog, the ACCC, took Darling Downs Fresh Eggs to court over misleading claims about free range eggs.

Source: The Pork Site

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EAME News Updates

(EU) EU Pig Prices: South Preparing for Holiday Season

Release Date: Thursday, June 15, 2017

The European slaughter pig market continues to be well-balanced this week. Almost all quotations tend to remain constant and steady. The Spanish quotation went up slightly, while the British quotation – which has been corrected to the ISN standard – gave in a little because of fluctuations in the exchange rate.
Almost all European countries report mostly steady demand for meat. The quantities of slaughter pigs on offer are sufficient to cover demand. It has been reported from various sides that the current price level being so high for slaughter pigs is a limiting factor in the meat trade. Therefore, competition remains tough.
Southern Europe is currently preparing for the holiday season, thereby leading to an increase in pork prices. Over the past weeks, Spain has been able, for instance, to already realise moderate price increases. So, Spain ranks first, remaining uncontested within the European price structure of the five EU member countries most well-known for pig keeping.

Source: The Pig Site

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(Qatar) Qatar Seeks to Import Eggs from Iran

Release Date: Wednesday, June 14, 2017

An Iranian union of chicken farmers said it has received requests from Qatar to import chicken eggs over a possible food shortage there after Saudi Arabia and its allies cut ties with Doha.
Mihan Central Union of Producers of Egg-Laying Hens—the sole Iranian union in the sector—told Financial Tribune it has received several requests from Qatari traders, adding that talks have begun for the shipment of eggs.
Reza Torkashvand, the union’s CEO, was also quoted as saying in a press conference on Monday that the Ministry of Agriculture has taken urgent measures to facilitate the health and safety procedures regarding export of chicken eggs to Qatar.

Source: The Poultry Site

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(South Africa) TAU SA Commends Agri Sector for 22% Growth

Release Date: Wednesday, June 14, 2017

The South African agricultural sector has not been a contributing factor to the recession the country currently has to contend with, and TAU SA congratulates the entire agricultural sector, and in particular all farmers, for the remarkable achievement of growing the agricultural sector by an astounding 22 per cent, whilst other sectors are experiencing unfavourable conditions.
TAU SA President, Louis Meintjes, affirms that this notable achievement is a feather in the cap of the agricultural sector and clearly indicates the resolve of agriculturalists, which remains, in spite of climatological and political challenges, one of only two sectors indicating growth while the rest languish in recession.
“This pertinent information follows on the heels of President Jacob Zuma’s acknowledgement that land claimants are not interested in gaining access to land, rather, the vast majority; prefer to settle land claims on a financial basis.

Source: The Poultry Site

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(UK) Pig Prices Approaching Temporary Plateau

Release Date: Tuesday, June 13, 2017

Another positive day for sellers and, although prices are to some extent approaching a plateau for the time being, pig numbers remain tight and demand is firm, writes Peter Crichton in his “Traffic Lights” commentary for 9 June 2017.
The SPP has continue its upward track rising by a further 0.75p and now standing at 160.85p, although German producer prices have stood on and most weekly contribution prices have remained at similar levels, generally within the 159p – 164p/kg range.
Spot bacon prices are now more than 10p above the SPP with most traded in the 170p – 173p/kg region and plenty of takers.
After all the excitement of the General Election result (nil to the Conservatives), the currency markets went into a bit of a tizzy, but now seem to have settled down with the Euro worth 87.86p on Friday afternoon and marginally firmer than its value 7 days earlier of 87.58p.
However, cull sow demand improved by 1p – 2p/kg, depending on spec and load size, with most culls traded north of 102p/kg and demand is firm with both of the main cull sow exporters prepared to take more where numbers were available.

Source: The Pig Site

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(Uganda) Pork Tapeworm Linked to Epilepsy

Release Date: Monday, June 12, 2017

Consumption of contaminated pork has been linked to the rising cases of epilepsy in Uganda.
Epilepsy is a condition that is characterised by recurrent seizures or convulsions. It is locally referred to as “Ensimbo”.
The country has an estimated 3.3 per cent of people living with the disease, according to statistics from the Uganda Epilepsy Association.
Although the causes often vary among individuals, experts have warned that the Taenia Solium, commonly known as the tapeworm in pigs, cannot be ruled out.
In an interview with New Vision, Dr Richard Idro a peadiatric neurologist at Mulago Hospital explained that accidental ingestion of pork contaminated with eggs of Taenia Solium, was the main way through which the parasites enter the body and then finally to the brain.

Source: The Pig Site

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Global Agribusiness News

China Reports More High-path H7N9 Outbreaks; H5N8 in Other Countries

Release Date: Thursday, June 15, 2017

In the latest avian flu developments, China reports more highly pathogenic H7N9 outbreaks in three provinces, and South Korea continues to battle a flare-up of H5N8 activity, according to the latest notifications from the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE).

H7N9 outbreaks continue in China:
Chinese health officials detailed four outbreaks in two OIE reports. Two occurred in different locations in Inner Mongolia province in the north, one at a large layer farm that began on 21 May, killing 35,526 of 406,756 susceptible poultry. The remaining birds were culled to curb the spread of the virus.

H5N8 in South Korea, Zimbabwe, Luxembourg:
Meanwhile, several more highly pathogenic H5N8 outbreaks were reported by South Korea, with a few more cropping up in Luxembourg and Zimbabwe.
In South Korea, officials reported 16 more outbreaks that began from 3-7 June, all but two involving backyard birds. Affected areas included seven towns in North Jeolla province, four on Jeju island, three in the Ulsan metropolitan area, and one each in South Gyeongsang province and the city of Busan.

Source: The Poultry Site

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Global Food Import Bill on the Rise Despite Stable Markets

Release Date: Wednesday, June 14, 2017

Global food commodity markets are well-balanced, buoyed by ample supplies of wheat and maize and rebounding production of oilseed products.
However, rising shipping costs and larger import volumes are set to lift the global food import bill to more than USD 1.3 trillion this year, a 10.6 per cent increase from 2016, FAO said last week in its biannual Food Outlook.
The food import bills of least-developed countries, low-income food deficit countries and countries in sub-Saharan Africa are on course to rise even faster due to higher import volumes of meat, sugar, dairy and oilseed products.
Rising import bills are forecast for all food categories except for fish, for which growing domestic market demand in many developing countries is being increasingly met by robust growth in their local aquaculture sectors.

Source: The Poultry Site

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Global poultry industry records strong performance

Release Date: Tuesday, June 13, 2017

Global poultry is currently performing well, with profitability in most regions despite pressure from avian influenza (AI), especially in Asia, according to Rabobank’s latest poultry quarterly report. The industry’s strong performance is backed by a combination of strong demand, restricted supply, and ongoing low feed costs. However, the big exception remains China, where the negative impact of human AI cases has kept prices down. Chinese local authorities have closed many live bird markets, and this has had a big impact on the yellow-bird market. Meanwhile, global trade has reached record-high levels, but trade streams have shifted. The US, and to a lesser extent, Thailand have been the winners in this trade shake-up, due to AI-related restrictions and the impact of the meat scandal in Brazil.
Source: Asian Agribiz

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