The Absa Purchasing Managers Index indicated that manufacturing activity in the Republic of South Africa shrank during July, at the fastest rate for the past 14 months despite the previous Coronavirus lockdowns. The index fell to 43.5 points in July from 57.4 points in June. The nation is still confronting COVID, but the index was impacted mainly closure of plants during looting and arson in urban areas of KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng Provinces.
Civil disturbances closed all harbors and inter-provincial transport for two weeks. Durban, the main import harbor for U.S. poultry exports was seriously impacted. The extent of disruption will in all probability be reflect in the level of July shipments of chicken to the RSA.