March 9, 2004

South African Imports More South American Beef, Pork And Poultry

The majority of South African imports of beef, pork and poultry came from South America in 2003.

South African beef imports increased 152%, totalling 10,958 tonnes in 2003, 47% of which came from Brazil (5,143 tonnes) and 37% from Argentina (4,409 tonnes). Beef imports from Australia totalled 392 tonnes, accounting for 4% of beef imports.

South African pork imports increased 77%, totalling 14,537 tonnes in 2003. Brazil (4,660 tonnes) supplies the majority of bone in and boneless pork, while France (4,593 tonnes) is the major supplier of spare ribs into South Africa, accounting for 32% of the total.

South African imports of sheepmeat dropped 14% in 2003, totalling 13,239 tonnes, as a result of the 30% fall in mutton imports from Australia. This was partially offset by the 242% increase in imports from New Zealand (3,033 tonnes).

Chicken is the major meat imported, totalling 50,133 tonnes of chicken cuts and whole carcases. A further 47,644 tonnes of mechanically deboned (MDM) chicken is imported for manufacturing purposes. Brazil supplied 49% of chicken and MDM chicken imports in 2003. Offal imports totalled an additional 46,008 tonnes, including chicken offal (28,220 tonnes), with 80% originating from Brazil.