The volume of hog production from July to September 2023 was recorded at 450.90 thousand metric tons, liveweight. This indicates an annual increase of 3.3 percent from the 436.68 thousand metric tons, liveweight output in the same period of 2022. (Figure 1)

Central Visayas was the top producer of hog with 67.66 thousand metric tons, liveweight or 15.0 percent share to the total hog production during the period. Completing the top five regions with the highest volume of hog production at liveweight during the quarter were the following:

a.    CALABARZON with 59.81 thousand metric tons;       
b.    Northern Mindanao with 54.50 thousand metric tons;       
c.    Central Luzon with 46.16 thousand metric tons; and      
d.    Davao Region with 36.16 thousand metric tons.

These regions accounted for 58.6 percent of the country’s total hog production during the period.

Relative to their outputs in the same quarter of 2022, 13 regions registered increases in production during the quarter. In terms of level, Central Luzon recorded the highest increase of 12.35 thousand metric tons, from 33.80 thousand metric tons in the third quarter of 2022 to 46.16 thousand metric tons in the same quarter of 2023.

As of 30 September 2023, the country’s total swine inventory was estimated at 9.86 million heads. This was 2.1 percent lower than the previous year’s same period count of 10.07 million heads. About 67.5 percent of the country’s swine population came from smallhold farms, while the remaining 29.2 percent and 3.3 percent were from commercial and semi-commercial farms, respectively. (Figure 2) 

CALABARZON recorded the highest swine population of 1.35 million heads as of 30 September 2023. This was followed by Central Luzon and Northern Mindanao with corresponding inventories of 1.06 million heads and 1.03 million heads. These three regions accounted for 34.9 percent share to the country’s total swine population during the period. (Figure 3) 

The average farmgate price of hogs for slaughter was quoted at PhP 163.34 per kilogram, liveweight for this quarter. This indicates a decrease of 6.1 percent from the previous year’s same quarter quotation of PhP 173.88 per kilogram, liveweight. (Figure 4) 

In the third quarter of 2023, the highest average farmgate price was recorded in August at PhP 164.49 per kilogram, liveweight, while the lowest average farmgate price was noted in July at PhP 162.35 per kilogram, liveweight. 

DIVINA GRACIA L. DEL PRADO, PhD      
Assistant Secretary      
Deputy National Statistician       
Sectoral Statistics Office