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The number of live pigs arriving at slaughterhouses today (January 24) was 4697, with 3976 imported from the Mainland and 721 from local farms. The wholesale price for live pigs ranged from $1,000 to $1,370 per 100 catties, with an average price of $1,173, a spokesman for the Food and Health Bureau said.
According to the information provided by the Special Commissioner's Office in Guangzhou, Ministry of Commerce, the estimated number of live pigs to be imported from the Mainland for tomorrow (January 25) will be 1200. There will be a supply of some 100 live pigs from local farms tomorrow. The total number of live pigs available for auction tomorrow will be about 1300.
Since the demand for live pigs during Lunar New Year holidays will normally decrease, live pig agents will correspondingly import fewer pigs during holidays for supplying the retail market on the following day, the spokesman explained.
The spokesman added that announcing the estimated live pig supply for the following day could enhance information flow and transparency of the market. Members of the public and traders could better understand the overall supply of live pigs.
Noting that the estimated figures only served as an indicator, the spokesman said the actual supply should be adjusted in accordance with market demand.
Ends/Saturday, January 24, 2009
Issued at HKT 19:04
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