The urgent need for a poultry exports drive is illustrated by the 2025 trade statistics, which show a sharp drop in chicken exports.
Exports were highlighted by an authoritative survey published this month. This found that the future prosperity of South Africa’s poultry industry depends on export-led growth.
However, chicken exports have not been rising, and dropped significantly in 2025.
The latest competitiveness survey by the independent Bureau for Food and Agricultural Policy (BFAP) found that South Africa had risen to second position, behind Brazil but ahead of the United States and all of Europe.
The BFAP said future growth would depend on a big exports boost, including into new markets.
That’s not happening, as the December 2025 trade statistics demonstrate. Chicken exports in 2025 dropped to just under 42 000 tonnes. This is lower than the 50 000 tonnes exported in 2019, the year the poultry master plan was signed.
The master plan envisaged an exports bonanza, with export volumes doubling and trebling over a decade. Instead, export volumes hardly moved until 2024, when they rose to nearly 57 000 tonnes.
The 2025 total is an annual drop of 26%. Most of South Africa’s chicken exports went to neighbouring states, led by Lesotho (49%), Mozambique (16%) and Namibia (10%). The only market in the Middle East – a priority destination for expanded chicken exports – was the United Arab Emirates (4%).
Nothing yet to the European Union or Saudi Arabia, with approvals processes seemingly endlessly delayed.
No Bonanza. Instead of shooting up, chicken exports are going backwards.
