Numerous ASF outbreaks recorded during the summer in Bulgaria reduced pig stock by 30% and prices increased by 45%.
Bulgarian pork prices jumped 45%, reaching 8-9 leva (almost € 4.5), the highest level in 10 years due to the situation of African swine fever in the country, Sofia authorities said.
According to Svetly Chamova, executive director of the Association of Meat Processing Enterprises in Bulgaria, the situation is a threat to processors, as the reduction in the number of pigs in the country is critical.
“We lost almost 30% of the herd due to outbreaks of ASF. We really don’t know what the future holds for the industry in 2020, ”she said during a working visit to Bucharest.
The monitoring commission monitors pork prices in the country, and government officials say they will provide comprehensive support to the industry if prices rise again.
Bulgarian producers and processors expect a further increase in pork prices in the last couple of months of 2019. Meanwhile, some Bulgarian consumers have switched from pork to poultry or beef because of the sharp increase in prices observed in September and October.
