High pork prices to be controlled
High pork prices to be controlled
The Vientiane Commerce and Industry Department will direct the commerce and industry office in each district to control the price of pork after it has peaked in recent months.
The department has announced that pig meat should be sold at the farm gate between 18,000-20,500 kip per kg, 22,500-25,000 kip at the slaughterhouse and 35,000 kip at the markets.
But the price pork is selling for in some Vientiane markets is currently about 38,000-45,000 a kg according to local media collecting information at the markets.
So, to control the high price the department will cooperate with district authorities to check prices at the markets. If the authorities see traders selling pork higher than 35,000 kip a kg, they will be reprimanded or fined.
This measure will help to control consumer prices that often increase in the lead up to Lao New Year.
Commerce and Industry technical staff believe the cost of pork has recently increased as a greater number of people have shifted to consuming pork away from beef which has been at a steady high price for some time.
Meanwhile, pig breeders are happy with the recent higher demand and prices for them.
The price of pork at the Phonsavang market ranges from 35,000 kip to 45,000 kip, Spharnthong market 38,000 kip to 45,000 kip and Huakhua market from 38,000 kip to 42,000 kip.
The high prices have caused many consumers to complain and they are not sure when the price will return to normal.
The price of beef is at a stable high price between 65,000 to 70,000 kip a kg but some markets are selling it higher.
Many people believe the price of many goods at markets will increase running up to Lao New Year celebrations.
However, with competition from foreign pig breeders increasing, the price of animal feed rising and high interest bank loans troubling farmers, the long term prospects for many pig farms in Laos are not good.
vientiane times
