ASF could accelerate food inflation in Vietnam

“The risk of wider spread of the disease is very high, which could impact food supplies, consumer prices and the environment,” according to a government document cited by  REUTERS .

Over the past period of 2024 , 42,400 infected pigs were destroyed in Vietnam. This is almost 5 times more than in the same period last year. As of July 14, 660 outbreaks of ASF were recorded in the country , compared to 208 for the same period in 2023, the document states.

Let us recall that in July last year, the Vietnamese authorities approved two vaccines of their own development for use in livestock farming. These are the world's first commercial vaccines against ASF.

Rising pork prices due to ASF in some areas contributed to the rise in Vietnam's consumer price index in June. Last month, food prices rose 3.23% compared with June 2023, according to government data.

ASF has been rocking the $250 billion-a-year global pork market for years . During the worst outbreak in 2018 and 2019, CHINA , the world's largest pork producer, lost about half of its herd. Then the losses were estimated at more than $100 billion.