Philippines eyes chicken export market in Hong Kong - PHILIPPINES - With poultry products in Hong Kong taking up a significant five per cent (212,700 tonnes) of the 4.254 million tonnes of export market as of 2002, Philippine Association of Broiler Integrators (PABI) is eyeing Hong Kong as a highly-prospective market.

Rita Imelda B. Palabyab, PABI president, told reporters Hong Kong may be the Philippines' next export market after it penetrated Japan since February 2004. She said Hong Kong is an ideal market for the Philippines since local broiler integrators have already trained a skilled labor that can meet quality standards in export markets that require intensive value-adding. And Hong Kong, similar to Japan, is one of such markets.

"Japan is very value-added. Hong Kong is a similar country," she said.

Despite inability to keep up with low production costs in Brazil which is the world's second largest poultry exporters, taking up 28 per cent of 5.7 million tonnes world export in 2002, Palabyab said low labor cost here that is highly skilled will make up for the cost difference and keep competivity at par with world's biggest poultry exporters such as Brazil and previously Thailand.

Records at the United States Department of Agriculture Foreign Agriculture Service showed that the rest of the world's largest exporters as of 2002 were the United States, 38 per cent; European Union, 15 per cent; Thailand, eight per cent; and China, eight per cent.

Ruben Pascual, Poultry Export Board chairman, said that several local broiler integrators are now seeking a Triple A classification and a certification for Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP) with the National Meat Inspection Council (NMIC) to take advantage of the Philippines export opportunity that would not have occurred if not for the Asian bird flu crisis.

"Three plants are looking for accreditation with the NMIS," he said.

Among the world's other largest poultry importers as of 2002 were Russia, 28 per cent of 4.254 million tonnes; Japan, 17 per cent; China, 10 per cent; European Union, 10 per cent, and Saudi Arabia, nine per cent.

The world's biggest poultry consumers out of a 53.792 million kilogram consumption in 2003 are US which takes up 24 per cent; China, 18 per cent; European Union, 12 per cent; Brazil, 11 per cent; Mexico, five per cent; Japan, three per cent; and Russia, three per cent.

The Philippines had its first chance to export chicken last year totaling to 1,500 million tonnes, but PABI exporters (San Miguel Foods Inc., Swift Foods Inc., Tyson Agro Ventures) foresee this could rise to 5,000 to 10,000 million tonnes this year.

Despite the opportunity, the export volume remains small compared to Japan's import of some one million tonnes yearly mainly from Brazil and Thailand prior to the Asian bird flu crisis.

Source: eFeedLink - 7th March 2005