Philippines suspends pork imports for 60 days, hitting Brazil exports

The Philippine government has ordered a temporary 60-day suspension of pork imports after a preliminary investigation found that rising foreign purchases caused serious harm to domestic producers. The measure was established by an order from the Philippine Department of Agriculture, signed on November 7 by Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel Jr.

The restriction covers nine product categories, including fresh, chilled, and frozen pork, as well as edible offal. The ban is not yet in force; the 60-day period will begin either when the Philippine Customs issues an order or 15 days after publication in two national newspapers, whichever comes first.

“The increase in imports between 2021 and August 2026 caused substantial and serious harm to the national pork industry.”

Brazil is the main destination for Philippine pork exports. From January to September 2026, the Philippines accounted for about 22 percent of the value of Brazilian pork exports, according to data from Brazil's Ministry of Agriculture.

The investigation, launched on October 17, analyzed industry data from 2021 through August 2026. Import volume rose from 589,700 tons in 2023 to 836,200 tons in 2025, an increase of 41.8 percent. Imports' share of domestic production grew from 39 percent in 2021 to 61 percent in 2025 and reached 65 percent in the first half of 2026.

Philippine self-sufficiency in pork production fell from 74.3 percent in 2021 to 65.5 percent in 2025, dropping to 54 percent from January to August 2026. Imported meat's share of national consumption rose from 36 percent to 55 percent over the same period.

In September 2026, Brazil exported 25,691 tons of pork to the Philippines, a 47.7 percent decrease from 49,078 tons in September 2025. Other major destinations included Japan, Chile, China, and Vietnam.