Late slowdown in 1st half meat imports adds uncertainty to full-year outlook — traders

The Meat Importers and Traders Association (MITA) said on Wednesday that the strong first-half meat imports may not be sustained for the rest of the year after a late-period slowdown, as reported by BusinessWorld.

MITA president emeritus Jesus C. Cham noted that while import volume in the six months to June rose 12% to 872,000 metric tons, the pace slowed toward the end of the period, raising concerns about demand and supply dynamics.

The uncertainty adds to the challenges faced by traders, who now must navigate potential shifts in consumer demand, government policies, and global market conditions that could affect the full-year import trajectory.