JOHANNESBURG - A surplus of pork in South Africa is expected to push prices down, offering some relief to consumers.
Earlier this year, consumers faced the prospect of higher pork prices following outbreaks of African Swine Fever (ASF) and Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD), which disrupted local supply and prompted precautionary imports. However, those imports have now contributed to an oversupply in the market.
Eskort CEO Arnold Prinsloo says pork farm-gate prices have fallen from around R40/kg to approximately R30/kg.
Concerns that the disease outbreaks would significantly reduce local supply led processors to secure imported pork to avoid shortages.
"With imported meat taking between eight and 10 weeks to arrive, the shipments entered the market just as local farms emerged from mandatory disease control restrictions and resumed normal operations," says Prinsloo.
"Consumers will be able to buy pork and bacon at a reduced price," he adds.
Farms affected by FMD were placed under restrictions for a minimum of 42 days after no new symptoms were detected. Prinsloo says that while these measures are essential for controlling the disease, they also create a backlog of market-ready animals that enter the market once restrictions are lifted.
Combined with softer consumer demand following earlier price increases, the result has been a significant oversupply of pork, putting downward pressure on prices.
The lower farm-gate prices are already filtering through to retailers.
"The current market conditions are good news for consumers," says Prinsloo.
"We have ample supply, lower prices and, importantly, no food safety risk to consumers."