High red meat prices fuelled by inflation, says Stats SA

Red meat prices in South Africa have increased at the highest rate of all food products year-on-year, despite a marked slowdown in food inflation, according to a statement by Statistics SA.

High red meat prices fuelled by inflation, says Stats SA
Red meat producer prices have declined markedly since December last year, according to James Faber, vice-chairperson of the Red Meat Producers’ Organisation.
Photo: FW Archive
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The inflation rate for February was 4%, which was the first time since March 2015 that inflation reached this level.

Food inflation also declined during the period under review. The price of food and non-alcoholic drinks had increased 3,9% since February 2017, while that of red meat rose 11,4% year-on-year. It was, nevertheless, lower than the 15,6% meat price inflation recorded in September 2017.

According to agricultural economist Dr Johan Willemse,  red meat had effectively traded flat since March/April 2017.

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Large-scale slaughterings and livestock sales following the drought in the summer rainfall regions had come to an end, and producers had started rebuilding their herds.

“However, the drought in the Northern Cape, central Karoo and Western Cape continues to have an effect on the red meat industry. Large-scale slaughterings are still taking place as producers find it increasingly hard to buy animal feed because of their deteriorating financial capacity,” he said.

Vast areas of the Northern Cape were still affected by extreme drought conditions. In areas such as Pofadder, Williston and Calvinia, good rainfall was last recorded about six or seven years ago, according to the Red Meat Producers’ Organisation vice-chairperson, James Faber.

He said red meat producer prices had declined markedly since December 2017. Grade A beef carcasses that sold for about R49,50/kg in December 2017, hovered at R46,50/ kg in March.

Weaner prices that were up to R42/kg in December were currently selling at about R34/ kg.

According to Faber, red meat had become a niche product in South Africa. This situation could only be changed if South Africa’s economy grew by at least 3%.

“Without a 3% GDP growth rate, it is highly unlikely that the consumer will have enough money to buy red meat,” he said.

“The latest VAT increase [has placed] additional pressure on buyers of our product.”

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Annelie Coleman represents Farmer’s Weekly in the Free State, North West and Northern Cape. Agriculture is in her blood. She grew up on a maize farm in the Wesselsbron district where her brother is still continuing with the family business. Annelie is passionate about the area she works in and calls it ‘God’s own country’. She’s particularly interested in beef cattle farming, especially with the indigenous African breeds. She’s an avid reader and owns a comprehensive collection of Africana covering hunting in colonial Africa, missionary history of same period, as well as Rhodesian literature.