Beef exports are defying both the depressed local market and an animal health crisis.
Meat export deals inked with Saudi Arabia and Iran last year have pushed South African beef exports to levels not seen since 2017.
In the first six months of this year, the South African industry exported more beef than any corresponding period in the past eight years.
By June, 23295.3 tonnes of beef had left South African shores, compared with only 15330.88 tonnes in the same period last year and 16109.64 tonnes the year before, according to data compiled by Dr Frikkie Mar, CEO of the Red Meat Producers Organisation.
Moreover, the general trend for red meat exports over the past eight years has been a spike in exports towards the end of the year. Yet the first half of 2024s exports are equivalent to 61% of the entire 2023s red meat export volumes.
Dr Gerhard Neethling, manager of the Red Meat Abattoir Association and veterinary services at Red Meat Industry Services, ascribes the success to extensive co-operation with particularly Saudi authorities, to comply with stringent biosecurity measures across the value chain.
Although the foot-and-mouth disease outbreak in the Eastern Cape created obstacles in that province, the lifting of quarantine requirements in Gauteng (and possibly soon in the Free State) allowed more market access from these areas.
The establishment of the ministerial task team for foot-and-mouth disease further contributes to effective communication with import countries in order to clear up any doubts about the available guarantees.
The strong showing has, however, come at considerable cost. Neethling says the industry worked closely with local officials during Saudi evaluation of 15 red meat processing facilities spread across the country to attain market access. Farms and feedlots supplying these 15 facilities also have to be registered for export and apply additional quarantine measures and animal identification, all of which is overseen by registered veterinarians.
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