South Africa: The South African Meat Market
Over the past two decades, steady economic growth and increased average income in South Africa resulted in the rapid expansion of meat consumption. While continued growth in meat consumption is projected in the coming decade, slower economic growth will result in moderate consumption growth relative to the past. South Africa consumes about 2.9 million tons of poultry, beef and pork meat per annum, with poultry meat consumption representing more than 60 percent of total meat consumption. Local production of poultry, beef and pork is about 2.4 million tons and as a result, production needs to be complimented by imports. South Africa’s major trading partners of meat imports include Brazil, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom and Germany. Although the United States can also play an important role in supplying the South African consumer with affordable meat, the South African meat market remains closed for United States products, due to anti-dumping duties and unresolved sanitary restrictions.
