South Africa pork prices plunge amid local market oversupply

South Africa’s pork market has shifted from fears of shortages to a significant oversupply, resulting in a sharp decline in wholesale prices and bringing welcome relief to consumers. Wholesale pork prices have fallen from about R40/kg to around R30/kg after earlier outbreaks of African swine fever (ASF) and foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) disrupted supply and prompted precautionary imports.
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‎The imported pork, which took between eight and ten weeks to arrive, entered the market just as local pig farms resumed normal operations following disease-related movement restrictions. This coincided with the release of market-ready pigs that had accumulated during mandatory control measures, creating a substantial surplus.
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‎Weaker consumer demand following earlier price increases has further contributed to the oversupply, putting downward pressure on prices. Although the market is expected to stabilise closer to its long-term average of about R32/kg, consumers are already benefiting from lower retail prices on a range of pork products, while industry stakeholders have emphasised that there is no food safety risk associated with the current market conditions.