Importation of chicken into South Africa is vigorously opposed by the South African Poultry Association representing domestic producers. Their adversary is the Association of Meat Importers and Exporters (AMIE) who benefit from importation and provide low-income consumers with product from the U.S., Brazil, Argentina, and other nations.
The AMIE has launched the ChickenFacts site dedicating to providing information concerning the poultry industry and the origin of imported product.
The action by AMIE is supported by USAPEEC as the website will counter false information circulated by entities supporting local production. This site can be accessed at <www.chickenfacts.co.za>. According to the USDA-FAS GAIN Report dated September 3rd 2019, South African imported 520,000 tons of chicken meat in 2018 with a five percent increase in 2019 to 545,000 tons.
USDA estimate that RSA production will be 1.420 million metric tons in 2020, imports will comprise 28.1 percent of total supply. South Africa imposes a duty of 31 percent on frozen carcasses with cuts removed, 82 percent on frozen whole birds, 12 percent on boneless cuts, and 37 percent on bone-in portions. An anti-dumping duty of $0.25 is imposed per pound beyond the quota of 69,000 tons annually. Similar duties apply to chicken and products from the European Free Trade Association.
The bulk of chicken consumed in the RSA is in the form of frozen whole chicken (59 percent), giblets and necks, (13 percent); frozen bone in, (9 percent) and chilled, (8 percent). Mechanically deboned meat represents seven percent of consumption. Per capita consumption of chicken amounts to 92 pounds, followed by beef (40 pounds); pork (11 pounds) and lamb (6.6 pounds).
Over the past five years, USAPEEC has worked hard to establish a quota for U.S. chicken with constant opposition from the South African Poultry Association using both litigation and representations to government agencies.