Poultry meat and offal market in SADC

Earlier Report Observations

From 2018 to 2020, the poultry meat and offal market in SADC saw its volume dip to 5 904 thousand tons in 2019 before recovering to 6 097 thousand tons in 2020. The initial decline was primarily due to high import duties and anti-dumping measures maintained by the South African Revenue Service (SARS), which restricted shipments of frozen bone-in chicken and offal. The rebound in 2020 occurred despite COVID-19 lockdowns that caused temporary retail price spikes and supply constraints, as domestic production increased to compensate.

Market volume continued its upward trend to 6 252 thousand tons in 2021, supported by tighter import controls that slashed the value of poultry imports by 23% and industry advocacy for a zero-VAT rating to boost affordability. Volume then stabilized near 6 284 thousand tons in 2022, a period marked by the introduction of a temporary import-duty rebate and stricter moisture-loss limits for frozen carcasses under revised regulations. A contraction to 6 215 thousand tons followed in 2023 after outbreaks of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) disrupted production, prompting authorities to investigate further tariff relief to mitigate shortages.

Production poultry meat and offal in SADC

In kind, 2017-2020, K t

Top producers of poultry meat and offal, 2017-2020

World map of production of poultry meat and offal, 2017-2020

In 2020, SADC produced 5,166 K t of poultry meat and offal, marking a modest 5.9% increase from 2019. Over the period from 2017 to 2020, production grew by 12.6%, which translates to an annualized rate of 4.0%. The largest decline occurred in 2019, with a drop of 0.7%, while the largest increase was recorded in 2018, at 7.1%.

Annual dynamics of production in SADC in kind, 2017-2020, K t

Exports poultry meat and offal from SADC

Exports in kind, K t

The market exhibited significant volatility during these years. Exports peaked in 2017 and reached their lowest point in 2019, with a 3.1-fold difference between these two years. In 2020, SADC exported 56 K t of poultry meat and offal, representing a sharp increase of 188.0% compared to 2019. The minimum volume was recorded in 2019 at 20 K t, which also saw the largest decline of 52.4%.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from SADC in kind, 2017-2020, K t

From 2017 to 2020, the United Arab Emirates was the top buyer of poultry meat and offal from SADC, accounting for 1.3% of total exports.

Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's exports from SADC in kind, 2017-2020

Exports in value, M $ US

In 2020, poultry meat and offal exports from SADC totaled 110 M $ US, showing no significant change compared to the previous year. Between 2017 and 2020, exports decreased by 2.6%, equating to an annualized rate of 0.9%. The minimum value was recorded in 2018 at 108 M $ US, which also experienced the largest decline of 4.1%. The largest increase occurred in 2019, at 1.8%.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from SADC in value, 2017-2020, M $ US

During 2017–2020, the United Arab Emirates stood out as the main buyer of poultry meat and offal from SADC in value terms, accounting for 1.8% of total exports.

Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's exports from SADC in value, 2017-2020

Imports poultry meat and offal to SADC

Imports in kind, K t

Imported volumes of poultry meat and offal in SADC declined for the third consecutive year. In 2020, SADC imported 987 K t, down by 5.7% from the prior year. Between 2017 and 2020, imports decreased by 26.5%, which corresponds to an annualized rate of 9.8%.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to SADC in kind, 2017-2020, K t

From 2017 to 2020, Brazil (41.6% of imports in kind), the United States (25.2% of imports in kind), and Argentina (4.3% of imports in kind) were the principal sources for imports, jointly accounting for 71.1% of total flows.

Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's imports to SADC in kind, 2017-2020

Imports in value, M $ US

Foreign supplies of poultry meat and offal to SADC declined for the second consecutive year. In 2020, SADC imported a total of 1,181 M $ US, showing a solid contraction of 20.1% compared to 2019. Between 2017 and 2020, imports decreased by 34.9%, equating to an annualized rate of 13.3%. The maximum value was recorded in 2018 at 1,181 M $ US, which also saw the largest increase of 4.8%. The largest decline occurred in 2019, at 22.2%.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to SADC in value, 2017-2020, M $ US

Over 2017–2020, Brazil (34.5% of imports in value terms), the United States (29.3% of imports in value terms), and Poland (3.8% of imports in value terms) remained the leading destinations in the country structure of imports, with a combined share of 67.6% of total flows.

Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's imports to SADC in value, 2017-2020