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South Africa's pork industry is recovering as outbreaks of African swine fever (ASF) and foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) have slowed significantly, allowing producers to rebuild their herds. Commercial pig farms have reported no new ASF outbreaks since April 2026, while FMD cases have also declined sharply. As a result, producer profitability has improved, supported by lower feed costs and firm pork prices, although increased pork imports have begun easing market prices.
The disease outbreaks that affected the sector in late 2025 reduced pig numbers, leading to a 5.1% year-on-year decline in both pig slaughtering and pork production during the first quarter of 2026. However, lower maize prices helped offset reduced supply, boosting producer margins. In addition, improved access to vaccination and expanded slaughter capacity for pigs from FMD-affected farms have strengthened the industry's recovery efforts.
Rebuilding herds is expected to take time because farms affected by ASF must undergo quarantine before gradual restocking with breeding animals can begin. Industry projections indicate that breeding herds should return to pre-outbreak levels by the end of 2026, while overall production capacity is expected to recover over the next 12 months.
Despite the improving animal health situation, producers remain concerned about economic pressures. Higher volumes of imported pork are weighing on domestic prices, while the risk of increased feed costs due to possible adverse weather conditions and rising global fertiliser costs could squeeze profit margins in 2027. Nevertheless, expectations of strong maize and soya bean harvests are likely to keep feed costs relatively low in the near term, supporting the industry's continued recovery.
July 9, 2026/South Africa/
https://www.farmersweekly.co.za/
