Ordinarily, people wouldn’t pay close attention when a country temporarily suspends poultry imports from another country. But at this time of heightened trade friction, such things get more attention and thus require some clarification.
South Africa has recently suspended the imports of poultry products from Brazil due to the avian influenza outbreak. The EU and China have also suspended poultry imports from Brazil.
Here is the thing: animal health is a global challenge, and we all should remain vigilant. In recent months, cases of bird flu have spread in parts of the US, UK, and, most recently, Brazil.
In South Africa, we still remember egg shortages in 2023 when avian influenza hit various regions. Against this background, we always observe the animal health conditions of our trading partners closely. One region that has worried us lately is Brazil.
South Africa, while an agricultural powerhouse and net exporter — exporting just under US$14 billion of farm products a year — still imports about 20% of its annual poultry consumption (roughly 350,000 tonnes of various pieces). The suppliers for various cuts include Brazil, the US, Argentina, and the EU. But Brazil has a sizable share in imports of around 70% annually.
So, when we read about the outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza (H5N1 – clade 2.3.4.4b) in some farms in the state of Rio Grande do Sul, we got worried.
Fortunately, the Brazilian authorities were proactive and exposed this disease’s risk to trading partners. To contain its spread, the certification of all poultry products was swiftly stopped from leaving Brazil.
Thus, on May 21, the South African authorities followed a similar approach of suspending imports from Brazil. South Africa’s Department of Agriculture stated that:
“as dictated by South African and international laws and practices, South Africa also suspended importation of all poultry and poultry products packaged on or after April 30 2025, effective May 19 2025. These include live poultry, eggs and fresh (including frozen) poultry meat. “
Of course, this will likely be temporary and aligned with routine global procedures. It is not a protectionist step by South Africa. As a country, we maintain a principle of openness in agricultural trade, with limited to no restrictions if commodities meet our specifications and follow the appropriate import regulatory standards.
We spend just over US$7 billion each year importing agricultural products that we don’t produce in large volumes (Of course, we export just under US$14 billion, making us a net exporter of farm products).
The authorities will independently assess over time when the ban could be lifted. This is a scientific matter and best left to the regulators to guide the process as they work to protect South Africa from the possible spread of animal diseases.
What is clear for now is that, given Brazil’s dominance in imports and its domestic issues with failing poultry farms, we could see temporary upside price pressures on consumers.
The extent and length of that will largely depend on whether the other domestic producers or supplying countries could slightly increase the poultry product supplies much sooner in response to Brazil’s current import glitches and the domestic poultry production challenges by some farming businesses (Daybreak Foods).
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