27-05-2025
Beef price may drop as chicken price hikes
PRETORIA - South Africans are facing a possible rise in chicken meat prices following the government's suspension of poultry imports from Brazil.
The move is in response to a bird flu outbreak in the South American country.
Agricultural economist Wandile Sihlobo says the suspension should not be seen as a trade war, but rather as a necessary step to protect local consumers and the poultry industry.
Following China's suspension of red meat imports from South Africa, due to foot and mouth disease outbreaks in provinces like Mpumalanga, Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal, Sihlobo says beef prices could drop locally.
South Africa's poultry produces are confident they'll plug the hole created by the suspension of Brazilian imports.
The Agriculture Departments says South Africa will, however, continue to import consignments containing products packed on or before the 30th of April 2025, and heat-processed poultry products where the risk of transmitting the virus has been mitigated.
