South Africa's pork production set to grow 2% in 2027

South Africa's pork production is forecast to increase by 2% in 2027 as the industry benefits from favourable feed prices, according to a USDA Foreign Agricultural Service report. Modest GDP growth and expected bumper corn and soybean crops are expected to help sustain lower feed costs, while producers have retained a strategic stock of feed inputs from the previous season, positioning them to better withstand potential supply shocks.

South Africa is expected to harvest a record summer grain and oilseed crop of approximately 21.5 million metric tons, including the largest corn harvest on record at an estimated 18.6 million metric tons. Feed remains the largest cost component in pig production, accounting for more than 60% of total production costs.

In 2026, South Africa's pork production is expected to have decreased by 7% as a result of outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease and African swine fever, which affected the industry during the first quarter of the year. The FMD outbreak began in the cattle industry before spreading nationally and subsequently infecting the pig industry, affecting five provinces including Limpopo and North West. The pork industry collaborated with government and researchers to help control the outbreak and ensure vaccine supply to farmers. As of July 2026, only five of nine provinces had reported increased production.

The South African Pork Producers' Organisation has developed a voluntary quality assurance system aimed at ensuring the production of high-quality pork on welfare-friendly farms with strong biosecurity, environmental stewardship, and minimal antimicrobial use.