Question NW650 to the Minister of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development

Reply:

South Africa (SA) has been exporting red meat from the Republic to the rest of the world for a number of years. Over the past 10 years, there has been a steady growth and increased average value of red meat exports in SA since the International Animal Health Organisation (OIE) declared the country free of Food-and-Mouth (FMD) disease in 2014. The declaration has given the country access to a number of export markets like Kuwait, United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Jordan from 2015 onwards. For the first time in history, SA became a net exporter of beef in 2016 by 1,7%. The estimated value of red meat exports showed an increase of 0,5%, from R 3 095 million in 2020 to R 3 110 million in 2021.

(b)(i),(ii) Both small and large livestock has been exported to the international markets over previous years. The total number of small livestock exported was 102 337 in 2021, a significant decrease of 22,7% as compared to 135 579 of the previous year. The estimated value during 2021 decreased severely by 34,8%, from R 293 314 to R 191 184. This was due to the COVID-19 trade restrictions to other countries. The total number of large livestock exported was 47 829 in 2021, a significant increase of 30,4% as compared to 36 676 in 2020. The estimated value in 2021 increased by 11,7%, from R 315 680 to R 352 770. In 2020, SA ranked 15th position globally as beef exporter, which shows that the industry has a potential to grow exports to high-value markets. However, an effective red meat traceability system is required to improve South Africa’s credibility in the OIE and exports market.

Table 1 below depicts the red meat exported in terms of Small and Large livestock in the previous ten (10) years. Information and analysis is not available for the years 2010 to 2014 but the statistics for the subsequent years are representative.

Year	Total Red Meat Exported	b (i) Small livestock	b (ii) Large livestock
	Total in Kilograms	Rand value	Numbers exported	Rand value	Numbers exported	Rand value
2015	50 014 922	R2 355 280 908	42 102	R56 324	201 454	R247 444
2016	50 673 733	R2 692 713 067	47 576	R57 454	41 677	R295 806
2017	43 667 944	R2 445 641 937	54 476	R71 462	51 983	R278 275
2018	41 004 154	R2 242 353 196	84 395	R84 347	29 758	R357 166
2019	35 004 979	R2 083 566 320	87 663	R178 032	22 955	R272 070
2020	48 272 941	R3 094 832 625	132 579	R293 314	36 676	R315 680
2021	44 680 026	R3 110 255 763	102 437	R191 184	47 829	R352 770

The latter part of the question enquires about the countries which have received our exports. The major export destinations of red meat originating from SA during 2021 were Kuwait, UAE, Mozambique, Jordan and Lesotho, accounted for 13,2%, 12,2%, 9,8%, 8,3% and 4,6% respectively. During 2021, SA has exported 44 680 tons of the total quantity of red meat, a decrease of 7,4% as compared to 48 273 tons in 2020.

Table 2 below depicts total red meat exports per Country of destination.

Major Red Meat Export Countries of Destination	Information for the Years 2015 - 2021
	Total Tonnage	Rand value
Lesotho	32 334 100	R902 453 503,00
Mozambique	44 925 609	R1 911 825 982,00
Jordan	22 002 200	R1 607 211 645,00
Kuwait	27 182 910	R2 218 335 633,00
United Arab Emirates	22 729 620	R1 774 132 627,00