One of South Africa’s high-demand markets is in serious trouble
Despite growing interest from the international market, South Africa’s meat export industry faces many challenges.
Association of Meat Importers and Exporters of Southern Africa (AMIE) CEO Paul Matthew said that new export opportunities are irrelevant if the government does not resolve existing market access issues.
AMIE chairman Mark Luff highlighted that while demand for South African meat is evident, the industry is hindered by bureaucratic delays and unresolved authorisations that block access to markets like Qatar and Dubai.
Italy’s interest in South African beef has grown following recent trade discussions at the SA-Italy Agriculture Business Forum in Cape Town.
However, Matthew warned that new export opportunities will have a limited impact if the government cannot restore access to markets that are already approved or commercially viable.
Luff stressed that changes in global trade, such as increasing tariff pressure from the United States, highlight the need for South Africa to diversify its agricultural trade relationships.
He said that Italy’s interest in South African beef demonstrates a strong demand for local red meat.
However, he also said that the meat industry’s immediate problem is not a shortage of buyers.
Exporters continue to struggle to move products into markets where demand already exists because authorisation and government-to-government processes remain unresolved.
“The industry cannot speak seriously about future access to new European markets while existing export channels remain blocked,” said Luff.
“Lamb exports to Qatar have been stuck for two years while access into Dubai is still not finalised, and facilities affected by foot-and-mouth disease remain shut out of key Middle Eastern markets where commercial momentum should already have been restored.”
Bottlenecks to the export industry
According to AMIE, Qatar exemplifies how quickly an export opportunity can turn into a long-term loss.
On June 1, 2024, the country banned imports of South African lamb, and while there are indications that buyers are eager to resume purchases, the renegotiation and authorisation process remains incomplete.
Before the ban, South Africa was exporting approximately 300 tonnes of lamb to Qatar each month, which corresponds to about 150,000 lamb carcasses.
AMIE said that trade could have generated significant export premiums for local producers.
It estimated the annual loss at around R750 million, totalling approximately R1.5 billion over two years.
The group said that a similar trend is now affecting several Middle Eastern export channels. Unresolved procedures related to Egypt are causing delays in Qatar, Mauritius, and Bahrain.
AMIE said that in numerous instances, trading partners have agreed to South Africa’s conditions or provided the necessary documentation, but exporters continue to wait for final action from the Department of Agriculture.
“Market access has no practical value if exporters cannot turn it into an approved product moving through the supply chain,” said Luff.
“Once buyers replace South African lamb or beef with a more reliable supplier, that space is difficult and costly to win back,” he said.
“Importers prefer to build their procurement systems around suppliers that can deliver consistently, and by the time South Africa is ready to trade, the opportunity may already have moved on.”
AMIE urged the Department of Agriculture to prioritise establishing the regulatory protocols needed to reissue health certificates and reopen existing markets before exploring new opportunities for the industry.
The association noted that the current delays are largely internal and preventable.
Luff mentioned that the situation is exacerbated by inconsistent veterinary interpretations among provinces, which can delay or disrupt shipments even after exporters believe they have secured the necessary permits or approvals.
“Italy may want South African beef, but no buyer in Rome, Doha, or Dubai can trade on promises of future system readiness,” he said.
“They need signed certificates, mutually agreed health conditions, approved facilities, and a veterinary authority that moves at commercial rather than bureaucratic speed.”
He said exporters are particularly hamstrung by inconsistent veterinary interpretations across provinces.
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