Pork prices increase sharply
Recorded by Lao Dong reporter on February 25, 2025, in the North, the price of live pigs in many provinces has increased by 1,000 VND/kg. In provinces and cities such as Bac Giang, Hanoi, Hung Yen, Hai Duong and Thai Binh, the price of live pigs reached 74,000 VND/kg. The remaining provinces in the region also recorded a slight increase, reaching 72,900 VND/kg. In some provinces such as Yen Bai and Ha Nam, the price of live pigs is flat, around 72,000 VND/kg.
In the Central - Central Highlands, provinces such as Lam Dong and Binh Thuan, the price of live pigs increased by VND 1,000/kg, reaching VND 78,000/kg. Meanwhile, Dak Lak and Ninh Thuan are at 76,000 VND/kg. The remaining localities also increased by 1,000 VND/kg, ranging from 72,000 - 73,000 VND/kg.
In the Southern region, the pig market recorded a strong increase, reaching 79,000 VND/kg in Dong Nai, Ca Mau, Ben Tre. The remaining provinces fluctuated around 78,300 VND/kg. In particular, Dong Nai, Ba Ria - Vung Tau, Vinh Long, Ben Tre have reached the highest level in the country, with the price of 78,000 VND/kg after increasing by 1,000 - 2,000 VND/kg.
Livestock farmers win big
The high price of live pigs has helped many households benefit. Mr. Thieu Quang Quy's family (Dong Luan commune, Thanh Thuy district, Phu Tho province) is currently raising nearly 100 pigs of all kinds. Mr. Quy said that traders buy live pigs locally for about 7.2 million VND/kg.
"Currently, each pig I release into the barn weighs about 110kg, I make a profit of more than 3 million VND. Before the Lunar New Year 2025, live pigs were priced at about 6.7 million VND/kg, now increasing to 7.2-7.3 million VND/kg. Currently, the family's pigs have about 30 pigs that can leave the barn" - Mr. Quy shared.
In Bac Giang, many livestock farming households are also happy because pig prices have increased sharply. Mr. Pham Van Hoa (Duong Thanh commune - Phu Binh district - Thai Nguyen province) has just moved more than 20 pigs to the stable for 7.3 million VND/kg.
"Now raising pigs is more profitable than raising buffaloes or cows. The pigs are quickly released from the cages and are cared for more freely. I have been raising pigs for 3 years, but this year is the most profitable" - Mr. Hoa said.
The recent increase in live pig prices has been mainly due to a sharp decrease in supply. At the North and South unit markets, the amount of live pigs imported has decreased by 50-60% compared to before Tet.
According to the Department of Animal Husbandry, the consequences of Typhoon Yagi have caused many farms in the North to not be able to re-herd, while the outbreak of African swine fever and foot-and-mouth disease in 2024 continues to reduce the number of pigs, pushing supply into a state of scarcity. Notably, traders in the North are stepping up purchases and bringing pigs to the South for consumption, further narrowing the supply.
In addition to natural disasters and epidemics, many livestock facilities have been forced to relocate from residential areas according to new regulations on environmental protection and biological safety. Farms that do not meet waste treatment standards and prevent epidemics must move to concentrated livestock farms or reduce their scale, causing the supply of live pigs to continue to decline.
In addition, livestock farmers are still cautious about herding due to concerns about epidemics and high input costs. Along with that, the output of pigs imported to Vietnam has also decreased significantly.
Mr. Duong Tat Thang - Director of the Department of Animal Husbandry (Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development) - said that in 2024, the amount of imported pigs decreased by nearly 11% compared to 2023, contributing to pushing up domestic pig prices.
Although the price of live pigs is increasing sharply, this situation may not last long because farmers who see good prices will quickly catch up. When supply increases again, prices may cool down.
