The January to March 2023 hog production was estimated at 437.99 thousand metric tons, liveweight. This indicates an increase of 5.1 percent from the 416.72 thousand metric tons, liveweight output in the same  period  of  2022.  This  level  of production in the first quarter of 2023  was  a  recovery  from  the  annual  declines  in  2021 and 2022 at -25.8 percent and -1.2 percent, respectively. (Figure 1)

During the period, CALABARZON was the top producer of hog with 61.18 thousand metric tons, liveweight or 14.0 percent share to the total hog production. Completing the top five regions with the highest volume of hog production at liveweight during the quarter were the following:
a. Central Visayas with 57.92 thousand metric tons;
b. Northern Mindanao with 55.46 thousand metric tons;
c. Western Visayas with 52.88 thousand metric tons; and
d. Central Luzon with 40.27 thousand metric tons.

These regions accounted for 61.1 percent share to the country’s total hog production during the period.

Relative to their outputs in the same quarter of 2022, nine regions registered increases in production during the quarter. In terms of level, Central Luzon recorded the highest increase of 11.72 thousand metric tons, from 28.55 thousand metric tons in the first quarter of 2022 to 40.27 thousand metric tons this first quarter of 2023.

As of 31 March 2023, the country’s total swine inventory was estimated at 10.18 million heads. This was 4.2 percent higher compared with the previous year’s same period count of 9.77 million heads. About 76.5 percent of the country’s swine population came from smallhold farms, while the remaining 22.3 percent and 1.2 percent were from commercial and semi-commercial farms, respectively. (Figure 2)

CALABARZON recorded the highest swine population of 1.31 million heads as of 31 March 2023. This was followed by Central Visayas and Northern Mindanao with corresponding inventories of 1.13 million heads and 1.09 million heads. These three regions accounted for 34.7 percent share to the country’s total swine population during the period.

The average farmgate price of hogs for slaughter was quoted at PhP 170.26 per kilogram, liveweight for this quarter. This registers a decrease of -3.3 percent from the previous year’s same quarter quotation of PhP 176.01 per kilogram, liveweight. (Figure 4)

In the first quarter of 2023, the highest average farmgate price was recorded in March at PhP 177.22 per kilogram, liveweight, while the lowest average farmgate price was noted in January at PhP 165.67 per kilogram, liveweight.

DIVINA GRACIA L. DEL PRADO, PhD
(Assistant National Statistician)
Office-in-Charge, Deputy National Statistician
Sectoral Statistics Office