Duck meat and offal market in South Africa

Earlier Report Observations

From 2018 to 2020, the duck meat and offal market in South Africa contracted from 1 633 t to 1 252 t. This decline coincided with noted impacts on breeder and meat ducks within the poultry industry in 2020, while duck farming remained a niche sector with few small free-range farms and no major new production facilities or players entering the market.

Market volume stabilized from 2021 onwards, fluctuating near 1 300 t. During this period, consumer interest in premium free-range duck products continued, and duck meat increasingly appeared on restaurant menus. This trend toward specialty and quality offerings supported a gradual rise in domestic production, which reached 1 242 t in 2023.

Production duck meat and offal in South Africa

In kind, 2018-2021, t

Top producers of duck meat and offal, 2018-2021

World map of production of duck meat and offal, 2018-2021

South Africa's duck meat and offal production has grown for the third year in a row. In 2021, the country produced 1,226 tonnes, marking a 0.7% increase from the previous year. Looking at the period from 2018 to 2021, production rose by 2.7%, which translates to an average annual growth rate of 0.9%.

Annual dynamics of production in South Africa in kind, 2018-2021, t

Exports duck meat and offal from South Africa

Exports in kind, t

In 2021, South Africa exported 68.8 tonnes of duck meat and offal, a decrease of 4.1% compared to 2020. Over the four-year span from 2018 to 2021, exports fell by 40%, averaging an annual decline of 15.6%. The lowest export volume was recorded in 2019 at 43.0 tonnes. That year also saw the sharpest drop, with a 62.4% reduction. In contrast, 2020 experienced the largest increase, with exports rising by 66.8%.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from South Africa in kind, 2018-2021, t

From 2018 to 2021, the top destinations for South Africa's duck meat and offal exports by volume were Lesotho, accounting for 31.7% of exports, Namibia at 27.2%, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo with 15.5%. Together, these three countries made up 74.4% of total export flows.

Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2018-2021

World map of product's exports from South Africa in kind, 2018-2021

Exports in value, K $ US

After declining for two years, South Africa's duck meat and offal exports in value terms rebounded in 2021. Export value reached 235,000 US dollars, showing a significant 69.0% increase from the previous year. However, over the full period from 2018 to 2021, exports decreased by 30.8%, with a compound annual growth rate of -11.5%. The lowest value was recorded in 2020 at 139,000 US dollars, and the largest decline occurred in 2019, with a 55.1% drop.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from South Africa in value, 2018-2021, K $ US

Between 2018 and 2021, the main markets for South Africa's duck meat and offal exports by value were Namibia, which accounted for 25.2% of exports, Lesotho at 21.3%, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo with 21.1%. Collectively, these three destinations represented 67.5% of total export value.

Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2018-2021

World map of product's exports from South Africa in value, 2018-2021

Imports duck meat and offal to South Africa

Imports in kind, t

Following a two-year decline, South Africa's duck meat and offal imports by volume increased in 2021. Imports totaled 172.3 tonnes, up 61.6% from the previous year. Over the period from 2018 to 2021, imports decreased by 68.9%, averaging an annual decline of 32.2%. The lowest import volume was in 2020 at 106.7 tonnes, and the largest drop was in 2019, with a 58.7% decrease.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to South Africa in kind, 2018-2021, t

From 2018 to 2021, Thailand was the primary source for South Africa's duck meat and offal imports by volume, making up 77.2% of total imports. Other countries contributed much smaller shares.

Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2018-2021

World map of product's imports to South Africa in kind, 2018-2021

Imports in value, K $ US

Market performance showed notable fluctuations during this period. Import volumes peaked in 2018 and hit their lowest point in 2020, with a 5.3-fold difference between these years. In 2021, South Africa's duck meat and offal imports amounted to 525,000 US dollars, representing a sharp 71.6% increase from the previous year. The minimum value was recorded in 2020 at 306,000 US dollars, and the largest decline occurred in 2019, with a 63.0% drop.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to South Africa in value, 2018-2021, K $ US

Between 2018 and 2021, Thailand continued to be the key source for South Africa's duck meat and offal imports by value, accounting for 74.4% of total imports. Other destinations played a much less significant role.

Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2018-2021

World map of product's imports to South Africa in value, 2018-2021