Press release
The first Economic Oversight Committee (EOC) meeting between the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (DTIC), the Department of Agriculture, and Poultry Masterplan stakeholders marked a significant milestone for South Africa’s poultry sector.
The meeting served as both a strategic engagement and a celebration of the substantial progress achieved since the launch of the Poultry Masterplan in 2019.
A key highlight of the meeting was the remarkable advancement in transformation across the industry. A total of 32 project leaders were recognised for successfully establishing large-scale poultry projects, each with an average investment of R45 million. Among these, the KC Hatchery stood out with an investment exceeding R135 million. In addition, 20 broiler contract farmers were acknowledged, along with the development of three new hatcheries and approximately eight egg-laying facilities.
The industry has achieved a 100% success rate across these 32 projects, with total investments surpassing R1 billion — cementing its position as a leader within South Africa’s agricultural sector.
This progress represents a significant turnaround from the decade preceding 2019, when the industry experienced sustained decline due to the influx of dumped chicken imports. Investigations by the International Trade Administration Commission (ITAC) confirmed that nine countries were engaged in dumping poultry products into South Africa, leading to the implementation of anti-dumping duties to protect the local industry.
Since the introduction of the Poultry Masterplan, the sector has undergone a strong recovery. Between 2019 and 2025, the industry invested more than R2.1 billion, while production increased by 26%; from 19.7 million to 23 million birds slaughtered per week. Import replacement strategies have taken effect, volumes have expanded, and cost efficiencies have improved.
Notably, this growth has been achieved despite significant challenges, including elevated raw material costs, the Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) outbreak in 2023, and persistent infrastructure constraints related to ports, roads, water, and electricity. Municipal inefficiencies have also posed ongoing obstacles. Nevertheless, the industry has demonstrated resilience and sustained growth.
Today, the poultry sector is the largest agricultural industry in South Africa, valued at R74 billion and employing more than 110,000 people across its extended value chain. A 2025 competitiveness study by Wageningen University confirmed that the South African poultry industry is highly competitive globally.
For over 13 years, South Africa has produced more affordable chicken than the European Union and has now surpassed the United States in cost competitiveness. Currently, only Brazil produces chicken at a lower cost. Furthermore, South Africa boasts the lowest feed conversion ratio (FCR) globally, highlighting its technical efficiency and global standing.
“The poultry industry is no longer in distress. It is a globally competitive, growing sector that continues to deliver affordable protein to South African consumers,” said Izaak Breitenbach CEO of the Broiler Organisation of SAPA.
The achievements of the past five years stand as a testament to the collaborative efforts of government, industry stakeholders, and partners under the Poultry Masterplan. Together, they have repositioned the sector as a resilient, high-performing pillar of South Africa’s agricultural economy.
Photo by Zoe Richardson on Unsplash
Relevant Agribook pages include “Poultry and chicken farming.” The business listings below comes from that page.
