Silver lining for braai lovers in South Africa
South Africa’s poultry producers continue to demonstrate strong operational capabilities, while those in beef are facing an onslaught from Foot-and-Mouth disease (FMD).
Lovers of meat, especially beef, have been hit at the till, as the FMD outbreak severely limits supply and places extreme strain on beef producers.
The disease’s impact is so severe that it has been classified as a National Disaster, having erupted in April 2025.
While beef supply is facing extreme pressure, poultry producers have demonstrated a reliable supply of chicken.
This is according to the lobby group for the chicken industry, Fairplay, which noted that the latest statistics show that poultry production rose by 7% in September and October 2025.
This makes up for tonnages lost due to a bird flu ban, which blocked all poultry imports from Brazil.
Brazil is South Africa’s primary source of chicken imports, and volumes dropped from May to October last year due to the temporary bird flu ban.
Local producers filled the gap left by the import shortfall, with production estimates for September and October showing that output rose to a record of more than 23 million chickens per week.
Fairplay noted that the rise in production also allayed fears that the local market could not adequately supply itself.
“We are very proud of this achievement,” said Izaak Breitenbach of the SA Poultry Association (SAPA) “Our chicken producers have shown yet again that they can feed the nation and avoid shortages.”
“We did it during the Covid pandemic, we did it despite the devastating bird flu outbreaks of 2023, and we did it last year when Brazil imports were reduced because of a bird flu ban.”
Breitenbach said that local production is efficient and competitive, accounting for over 80% of South Africa’s chicken consumption.
“We hope to be able to increase that share of the local market during the implementation of the revised poultry master plan,” Breitenbach noted.
Beef not the only battleground
The beef industry is not the only industry facing strain, with producers warning that African Swine Fever (ASF) will hit pork prices in the coming months.
Warnings from the South African Pork Producers’ Organisation (SAPPO) noted that the piggeries in the Free State, North West, KwaZulu-Natal and north-east Pretoria have been hit by swine flu.
Arnold Prinsloo, CEO of Eskort, said the pork market is highly sensitive to even small supply disruptions.
“South Africa slaughters roughly 72,000 pigs per week across the formal and informal sectors. The formal market has lost approximately 7,000 pigs due to the combined impact of ASF and FMD outbreaks,” said Prinsloo.
“While this represents a relatively small percentage of total supply, even a 2% shortage can drive price increases of around 10%. This is the reality of pork’s price elasticity.”
Pork prices have already risen sharply in recent weeks, with wholesale prices increasing from about R32 per kilogram to R40.
Larger increases are expected as the effects of disease outbreaks go through the supply chain.
“Until recently, we were able to hold prices stable because the industry had surplus stock that served as a buffer,” Vosloo said.
“That buffer has now been depleted, and we’re seeing the same supply-and-demand dynamics that recently affected the beef industry.”
Eskort accounts for about 10% of South Africa’s pork market, which has had no cases of ASF or FMD among its farmers.
SAPPO said that all pork entering formal channels remains safe for consumption, with ASH and FMD posing no risk to human health.
Loading ...