MB Subba 

The import of meat increased to more than 12,102 metric tons (MT) in 2019 from 10,978MT in 2018, an increase of slightly more than 10 percent in one year, according to a recently released Renewable Natural Resources (RNR) annual statistics.

Accordingly, the value of the total meat products imported increased to Nu 1,134 billion (B) from Nu 971 million (M).

However, the value of fish import fell to Nu 161M last year from Nu 168M in the previous year.

The data presents the volume and value of import of meat products from India during the period from January to December of last year.

The import of beef, which is one of the most popular meat items with Bhutanese consumers, in particular, increased by 19 percent.

In absolute terms, the import of beef jumped to 3,783MT in 2019 from 3,190MT in the previous year.

According to the report, beef includes the carcasses, half carcass, boneless or offcuts of fresh, chilled or frozen meat of cattle.

However, the import of pork decreased to almost 1,682MT from 1,753MT, a decrease of 4 percent.

Pork includes the carcasses, half carcass, boneless or offcuts of fresh, chilled or frozen pig meat.

However, the import of mutton decreased by 4 percent last year. In absolute terms, the import decreased to 28MT from 29MT. Mutton includes the meat of a goat and sheep.

The import of chicken increased to 1,631MT from 1,574MT, an increase of 4 percent.  Chicken was imported fresh, chilled or frozen.

The RNR statistics state that the import of meat products from the rest of the world is not reflected in the report as the volume are negligible.

However, the import of fish dropped by 14 percent to 707MT in 2019 from 823MT in 2018.

The import of dried fish continues to increase. It increased by 13 percent, from 328MT to 372MT.

The import of seafood saw a dramatic increase of 600 percent last year. In absolute terms, it increased to 3.56MT from 0.47 MT.