Philippine Poultry and Products Annual Overview - September 2005
By the USDA, Foreign Agricultural Service - This article provides the poultry industry data from the USDA FAS Poultry and Products Annual 2005 report for Philippine. A link to the full report is also provided. The full report includes all the tabular data which we have ommited from this article.
1 September 2005
14 minute read
Report Highlights:
The Philippine Department of Agriculture has forecast broiler output to decline in 2005, due mainly to a reported decline in day-old-chick importation last year. Consumption of broiler meat is projected to contract this year due to a projected slowdown in the Philippine economy and rising retail prices of chicken. Due to the projected decline in broiler output, imports of chicken meat, particularly leg quarters, are expected to increase this year. Exports of value-added chicken products to Japan, including U.S. chicken meat that is further processed in the Philippines, have been halted since July 7 due to a reported detection of Avian Influenza in the country.
Production
As of January 1, 2005, broiler inventory in the Philippines was estimated at 40.38 million
birds, 28 percent higher than last year’s 31.5 million birds. Currently 2/3 of Philippine broiler
stocks are concentrated in Central Luzon (42.9%) and CALABARZON Cavite-Laguna-
Batangas (23.4%).
According to the Bureau of Agricultural Statistics (BAS), the country’s volume of chicken
production in 2004 was 1,232 MT live weight or about 4 percent higher than the previous
year’s output.
From 2002 to 2004, a decreasing trend in day-old-chick (DOC) and hatching egg imp ortation
was observed. Due to the oversupply of broiler meat reported in 2004 and the resulting
large carryover stocks in January 2005, total DOC importation for both grandparent stock
(GPS) and parent stock (PS) last year dropped significantly. PS hatching egg importation
also declined in 2004. The same pattern can be observed for the first half of 2005, which
may indicate a forthcoming slowdown in broiler production.
Recently, the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) and BAS, in cooperation with the domestic
broiler industry, projected a decline of up to 6 percent in broiler production in 2005, mainly
as a reaction to the reported oversupply in broiler meat during last half of 2004 and the
subsequent large carryover stocks of dressed chicken for 2005. According to the Philippine
Association of Broiler Integrators, the industry experienced its highest-ever frozen inventory
at 11,000 MT in November 2004, ending the year with a carryover inventory of 4,200 MT.
Post’s broiler production numbers are reported in dressed weight equivalent (DWE) and
reflect BAS dressed chicken production volume as reported in its Annual Industry
Performance Report Supply and Utilization Accounts. Total PSD production numbers
represent output as reported by the National Meat Inspection Service (NMIS). Output was
derived from consolidated reports of NMIS-regulated dressing plants and on-farm dressing
facilities, which include a small percentage of native chicken and culled layers. As such, Post
projects a less substantial decline in 2005 broiler production due to possible positive
interventions by integrators and some growth in the native chicken and layer sector. In
2004, total supply of table eggs went up nearly 8 percent as a result of high prices and
strong demand.
Average farm prices in backyard farms for 2004 was recorded at P72.24/kg or 16.5 percent
higher than the previous year’s average. The highest farmgate price in 2004 was recorded
at P77.01/kg in September. In August 2005, average farmgate price of chicken was at P60-
64/kg, lower than that recorded during the same month last year.
According to traders, unlike 2004, yellow corn and soybean meal (SBM) prices have
remained relatively stable throughout 2005 due to ample supply.
Despite lower SBM prices, smaller quantities of SBM were imported last year and reduced
imports are forecast for this year, which indicates a possible slowdown in livestock and
poultry production. The Philippines does not produce any soybeans, and, with the exception
of a few crushing facilities, the country relies almost entirely on imports for its SBM
requirements.
According to a study produced by the Livestock Development Council (LDC), the supply chain
structure of the broiler industry in the ASEAN region is largely determined by its degree of
integration. Big corporations that are fully integrated dominate the output of the industry.
The smaller non-integrated companies usually focus their operations on a particular aspect of
the supply chain such as providing contract services to breeding, hatchery, growing and
dressing. Other firms raise chicken independently while securing critical inputs such as
DOCs, feed and medicine from integrators.
In the Philippines, the supply chain is split between integrators (65 percent) and nonintegrators
or independent producers (35 percent). The integrators have control of GP
farms, contract breeders, contract hatcheries, contract growers and contract dressing to the
wholesale market. Independent producers purchase their feed and DOCs from other
companies and usually sell their output to middlemen or traders and dressing plants.
The domestic feed grain sector is a major supporter of the broiler industry, similar to the hog
industry. The feed milling industry has its own supply chain, sourcing out its raw materials
from domestic and external sources.
In terms of technical production parameters, the Philippines has an average feed conversion
ratio (FCR) of 2.0. Live birds are normally sold at 1.8 kilograms per bird in the Philippines.
Trade contacts have reported a recent growing demand for larger birds (1.5 to 2.0 kg)
specifically by the wet markets, which currently sell more chicken cuts than whole birds. At
present, about 70 percent of local production still goes to the wet market with the rest
divided among food chains, supermarkets, hotels and restaurants.
Consumption
The National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) still forecasts GDP to grow at 5.3
percent in 2005 despite record high world oil prices. According to several analysts, GDP
growth in 2005 is expected slowdown to about 5 percent in 2004 from 6.1 percent last year,
due to projected weak agricultural growth, sluggish exports and high oil prices. Moreover,
new taxes such as the Expanded Value Added Tax and additional excise taxes are most likely
to dampen consumer spending. However, remittance from overseas Filipino workers is
expected to augment consumer spending.
Total consumption of chicken meat is forecast to decline marginally in 2005 due to the
projected slowdown in the Philippine economy. With a projected decline in broiler production
in 2005, consumer demand for broiler meat is expected to exceed domestic production, and
importation is likely to continue to fill in the gap. As one of the less expensive forms of
protein, chicken meat continues to be popular among Filipino consumers. The current high
prices of pork and beef may encourage consumers to shift to relatively lower priced protein
substitutes such as chicken and fish.
Philippine chicken consumption is relatively low at about 8.20 kilograms per capita compared
to Asian countries such Thailand (13.52) and Malaysia (37.59 kg). Traditionally, Philippine
demand for chicken generally increases during election years and over the Christmas/New
Year holidays, which explains the increase in consumption reported last year.
A recent study (Yanson, 2005) on the Philippine broiler industry revealed that a one percent
increase in personal consumption expenditure would increase broiler demand by 0.51
percent. A rise of one percent in the retail price of beef will trigger an increase in demand
for broiler meat by 1.18 percent. However, for every one percent increase in the retail price
of dressed chicken, demand for broilers will drop by 0.43 percent.
Trade
Imports of broiler meat are forecast to increase in 2005 to meet the expected shortfall in
chicken production in the last quarter of the year. From January to April 2005, imports of
chicken cuts and offals were forty percent higher than for the same period last year. In the
past, the Philippine DA has limited poultry imports through the Minimum Access Volume
(MAV) scheme where only quota-holders are allowed to import frozen and chilled poultry
meat into the country.
National Statistics Office (NSO) data indicate that total imports of chicken cuts increased
significantly in 2004. Chicken cuts and offals, mostly chicken leg quarters, continue to
represent about 76 percent of total Philippine poultry imports. The United States (64%) and
Canada (23%) are the main sources of imported chicken cuts in the Philippines, which is
mostly used by the fastfood industry. Turkey imports have been steadily increasing, growing
by 31 percent in 2004. It is reported that a large portion of turkey imports are Mechanically
Deboned Turkey (MDT), used mainly by the large food processors for hotdogs, sausages, etc.
Philippine imports of processed chicken and turkey products are likely to increase,
particularly from other ASEAN countries due to the low Common Effective Preferential Tariff
(CEPT) of 5 percent accorded them compared to the 40 percent applied rate levied on
products from other countries. However, current bans on imports from most ASEAN
countries (e.g., Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia) due to the detection of Avian Influenza (AI) in
those countries will likely temper this growth in the near term.
The Philippine DA has confirmed that the country remains free of Highly Pathogenic Avian
Influenza (HPAI). Last year, a few local and foreign food manufacturing companies began
exporting processed poultry products, particularly skewered chicken yakitori sticks, to Japan.
Japanese trading companies have been working with Philippine companies to ensure strict
Japanese specifications are met. (see Policy Section)
For the first six months of this year the Philippines exported about 3,000 MT of poultry
products, mainly value-added processed chicken products to Japan, which is the country’s
largest overseas market for poultry products. Year-to-date, Philippine poultry exports are
already three times the volume exported in 2004.
Policy
Avian Influenza: On July 7, 2005, BAI announced the detection of an AI strain in a few
ducks in a farm in Calumpit, Bulacan, north of Metro Manila. According to BAI, the “lowrisk”
flu strain was detected following routine tests done on blood samples collected by BAI
from the Bulacan duck farm which had applied for certification to export “balut” or exotic
duck egg.
The BAI and the Department of Health (DOH) immediately implemented various control
measures which included the immediate culling of the affected flocks, the temporary ban of
movement and sale of live poultry within a three kilometer radius of the affected farm for
one week and sustained surveillance and testing of all poultry farms in nearby areas.
Moreover, BAI stopped all exports of poultry and poultry products. Following the reports of
the AI detection, Japan immediately placed a temporary ban on the import of all poultry
products from the Philippines.
Further testing by the Australian Animal Health Laboratory, which serves as the Office
International des Epizooties’ (OIE) regional reference laboratory for avian influenza, found
exposure to a low pathogenic avian influenza (LPAI) virus of the H5, H7 or H9 subtypes in
the duck samples.
As a result, the Japanese government continues to suspend all imports of poultry and poultry
products from the Philippines, including U.S. chicken meat that is further processed in the
Philippines, expressing concern that the H5 and H7 virus subtypes could mutate to HPAI.
Japan has said it will lift the import suspension only 90 days after the confirmation that the
Philippines is free from HPAI and completion of the cleaning and disinfection of the infected
establishments.
Minimum Access Volumes: Earlier this year DA sought the opinion of the Department of
Justice (DOJ) on the expiration of the Minimum Access Volumes (MAV) and the Agricultural
Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (ACEF). In June 2005, DOJ ruled that DA may continue
implementing the MAV. DOJ stated that the WTO Agreement on Agriculture, Republic Act
8178 (Agricultural Tariffication Act) and various DA Administrative Orders governing MAV do
not provide any time limit for the application of the two programs.
In the absence of a new multilateral trade agreement, DOJ further ruled that the level of the
MAV on the 10th year would stand as the member country’s commitment to its WTO
obligations. Moreover, based on the WTO Agreement on Agriculture (AoA) schedules adopted
for each member country, importation in excess of the specified MAV would be allowed
provided the higher out-of-quota tariff rate is paid.
In January 2005, the DA distributed approximately 45 percent or 10,374 MT of the
Philippines' 9th year MAV allocations for poultry. To complete the 2005 volumes, DA issued
the remaining 55 percent of the 2004/9th year MAV allocations to current quota holders
based on their existing shares. Moreover, the required incremental quota increase of 860
MT of fresh/frozen poultry for the 10th year was made open to all qualified applicants based
on existing DA Administrative Order Nos. 8 (1997) and 52 (2002).
Since 2002, the GRP has imposed a special safeguard duty on several lines of chicken and
chicken products, which doubles the effective rate of protection for all out-of-quota imports
of the said products. All in-quota imports of chicken under MAV, consistent with the WTO
AoA, will continue to be exempt from application of SSG.
In July 2005, during its regular bilateral US-RP Trade and Investment Council Meeting, the
Philippines confirmed to the USG that it would not subject in-quota imports of poultry to
special safeguard duties. This ensures continued U.S. access to the Philippine poultry
market, the second largest in Southeast Asia.
Last year, fresh, chilled and frozen poultry meat Minimum Access Volume (MAV) utilization
was 92 percent. The annual MAV use for poultry meat for the last three years has averaged
about 91 percent. With the exception of the 5,000 MT special importation of chicken in
2004, practically all of the country’s poultry meat imports fall under the MAV.
Marketing
At present, four major integrators are supplying the bulk of the Philippine market with
poultry and poultry products: San Miguel Foods, Inc., Tyson Agro-Ventures, Swift Foods, Inc.
and Universal Robina Corporation. These integrators are said to supply about 65 percent of
total demand, while non-integrators and other commercial growers supply the remaining 35
percent. The integrated poultry operation consists of the core live bird operations which
extends up to the production of dressed broiler, cut-up chicken meat, up to further
processing of value-added products.
Non-integrated operations are primarily recipients of DOC-broiler for grow-out. The
capacities of commercial grow-out farms range from 24,000 birds to 600,000 birds. These
growers market their produce as live birds through market intermediaries called “viajeros.”
Commercial growers are the main market of PS breeders in the country. In terms of broiler
output, nearly all of their produce is channeled mainly to the wet markets and small retailers
primarily throughout Metro Manila and other nearby cities. Broilers sold in wet markets are
dressed in the market place or dressing areas near the market place (Yanson, 2005).
According to the University of Asia and the Pacific, the Philippine poultry market is composed
of the food service and the household sector, each with distinct product preferences. The
fastfood chains require volume delivery, mainly marinated parts and is very particular about
product specifications, value, quality and reliability. Hotels, restaurants and other
institutional buyers require whole chickens and have more variable pricing against the
relatively stable prices of fastfood chains.
Wet markets still provide the majority of daily household requirements, offering both whole
chicken and parts, although households are increasingly buying from supermarkets and
hypermarkets. While the emerging Philippine retail sector is increasing its role in supplying
fresh and frozen poultry meats to consumers, it is estimated that currently only about 10
percent is being sold at the supermarket level. Based on the latest Annual Poverty Indicator
Survey (2003, APIS), refrigeration in Philippine households stands at only 10 percent and
thus fresh meats are cooked very soon after purchase.
The Philippine poultry industry is expected to remain highly viable with value-added chicken
products having a large potential for expansion. There are a number of both imported and
domestically produced processed chicken products now available in the market (i.e., nuggets,
hotdogs, Vienna sausages, marinated chicken, etc.). Additionally, a growing segment of
consumers is turning to alternatives to higher priced red meats, which may spur demand for
chicken and turkey products.
The Philippines is in the process of applying for International Halal Certification that would
allow it to penetrate ASEAN and Middle East export markets. The private-sector-led
Philippine Halal Food Development Program (PHFDP) is encouraging Halal food processors to
acquire certification from the Office of Muslim Affairs (OMA) of the Philippine government.
PHFDP hopes that the establishment of international Halal linkages and networking will boost
the country’s export potential. Food manufacturing and processing giants such as San
Miguel Foods, Tysons Agro-ventures and Swifts Foods have reportedly adopted Halal methods
in their food processing for both domestic and international markets. The Muslim Business
Forum has estimated the global Halal market to be worth at least $80 billion a year.
Further Information
To read the full report please click here
Source: USDA Foreign Agricultural Service - September 2005
