The poultry industry continues to wear the crown as South Africa’s most valuable agricultural industry.
Official statistics for 2025 show that revenue from poultry meat totalled R74.4 billion, ahead of maize, which had a gross production value of R70.6 billion.
The egg industry, the second component of the poultry business, contributed R16.9 billion, bringing the poultry industry’s total revenue to R91.4 billion in 2025.
Other significant agricultural sectors were cattle (R49.8 billion), citrus fruit (R43.4 billion) and deciduous fruit (R40.3 billion).
Poultry has traditionally been the leader, but maize overtook poultry meat in 2022. Poultry meat bounced back from 2023 onwards.
The gross value of poultry meat production has grown by nearly 70% since 2017, when it stood at R44 billion. The egg industry has expanded from R10.7 billion to R16.9 billion in the past eight years.
