Moves to expand SA's poultry export markets

THE government is working to help the embattled poultry sector break into new export markets and become more competitive‚ a conference heard this week.

The South African industry exports only about 1.5% of its production‚ mainly to neighbouring countries.

Meanwhile‚ producers recently benefited from tariff protection against cheap imports from Brazil.

The sector has also applied for protection from dumped chicken from Europe.

The industry‚ which says it has lost 10 small producers to liquidations and takeovers in recent months‚ has attributed much of its woes to feed costs‚ cheap imports and weak consumer demand.

Speaking at the annual AVI Africa poultry sector conference‚ a director of industrial development at the Department of Trade and Industry‚ Imameleng Mothebe, said the initial focus area for export opportunities was the Middle East.

The DTI was working on a five-year action plan that would tackle South Africa's capability to export its products‚ particularly in terms of health and safety-related issues. Mothebe said regulations needed by each targeted export market were being assessed.

"Engagements are ongoing with our representatives in the various countries in the Middle East to assist us to fast-track the issues around the acceptance of our standards and certifications‚" she said.

Other target markets included Angola‚ which imported much of its bulk poultry from Brazil. The country could be a market for niche poultry products.

"We want to ensure, at least in the short to medium term, we are in a position to open one or two markets‚" Mothebe said.

The department also wanted to ensure that the industry was geared up to take advantage of those opportunities.

In the long term‚ the DTI was looking to open up other export opportunities‚ including to Iraq‚ Venezuela‚ Ghana and Japan.

Initial efforts would focus on broiler meat exports‚ but opportunities to export eggs were being looked at‚ Mothebe said.

SA Poultry Association chief executive Kevin Lovell said the organisation was working with the Trade and Industry and Agriculture departments‚ assessing the veterinary protocols for exports. - Nick Hedley