Dominican pork producers warn of bankruptcy amid rising imports

Small and medium-sized pork producers in the Dominican Republic are warning of potential bankruptcy due to a surge in meat imports and market oversupply. The Association of Pork Producers of the Dominican Republic (AproporcRD) reported that domestic production's share of market demand has dropped from approximately 75% in 2019 to around 35% currently.

Import volumes are projected to reach nearly 300 million pounds, up from 119 million pounds in 2019. Producers state that this influx is displacing local products and driving down prices, making it difficult for farmers to cover the costs of animal feed and maintenance. The crisis affects the entire supply chain, including farm workers, transporters, slaughterhouses, and butchers.

In Moca, producers have highlighted that an oversupply of meat is leading to an accumulation of animals without commercial outlets. They are calling on the government to implement better planning and regulation of imports to allow the national sector to recover from previous losses, including those caused by African swine fever.