South African poultry industry to offset Brazilian import shortfall amid bird flu outbreak

South African poultry producers are prepared to compensate for the anticipated shortfall in chicken imports following Brazil’s recent bird flu outbreak. The South African Poultry Association (SAPA) has confirmed that local producers can increase production by approximately one million chickens per week, ensuring a stable supply for consumers.

Brazil, the world’s leading chicken exporter, reported its first outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza (H5N1) on a commercial farm in Rio Grande do Sul, prompting several countries, including South Africa, to suspend poultry imports from the region.

SAPA’s Broiler Organisation CEO, Izaak Breitenbach, says that South Africa’s poultry industry currently processes about 21.5 million chickens weekly and can scale up to 22.5 million if necessary. Given that Brazilian imports constitute roughly 18% of local production, and primarily consist of mechanically deboned meat used in processed foods, the impact on fresh chicken availability is expected to be minimal.

With the winter months typically seeing lower demand for chicken, the industry anticipates no significant shortages or price increases. SAPA also highlighted ongoing efforts to explore new export markets and proposed making certain chicken products VAT-free to alleviate consumer costs.

As Brazil implements measures to contain the outbreak and aims to be declared bird flu-free within 28 days, South Africa’s proactive stance ensures continued stability in its poultry supply chain.