SA poultry industry ranked among world’s most competitive producers

SOUTH Africa’s poultry production sector has once again demonstrated its global competitiveness, outperforming European producers and now surpassing the United States in technical efficiency.

- BANELE GININDZA

HISTORICALLY ranked behind Brazil and the US, South Africa is now the second most competitive poultry producer globally.

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Historically ranked behind Brazil and the US, South Africa is now the second most competitive poultry producer globally, using less feed to produce a kilogram of chicken than most of its international counterparts.

This is according to the latest Bureau for Food and Agricultural Policy (BEAP) 2025 Competitiveness Benchmark Report, compiled in collaboration with Wageningen University in the Netherlands. The report found that South Africa’s average production cycle of 31.5 days is the shortest among all countries studied, while carcass weights have increased by 4.5% over the past decade.

The cost differential between South Africa and Brazil narrowed steadily until 2023. Although it widened again in 2024 due to drought-related feed price increases, the long-term trend indicates a strengthening competitive position.