Chicken meat is the most important protein source in the diet of the majority of South Africans. However, since 2013, chicken meat prices in South Africa increased by 13 per cent and in the past year by more than eight per cent, as increased import tariffs of chicken meat, coupled with anti-dumping duties, escalate local prices.

South African per-capita consumption of poultry meat (of which most is chicken meat) is estimated at 36kg per annum.

In comparison, each South African consumes only three kilograms of mutton, five kilograms of pork and 17kg of beef per annum.

Chicken meat consumption increased by about 70 per cent since the start of the millennium and has grown to be the most important protein source in the diet of the majority of South Africans, including the poor.

In Table 1, the trends in the retail prices of different meat sources in South Africa are shown. From the table it is clear that chicken meat is the cheapest source (in terms of R/kg) of meat in South Africa.

However, since 2013 the price of chicken meat increased in percentage terms more than that of pork or beef, as rises in the import tariffs of chicken meat, coupled with anti-dumping duties, escalate local prices.

Since 2013, chicken meat prices in South Africa increased by 13 per cent and in the past year by more than eight per cent, compare to an overall inflation rate of less than five per cent. Table 1 also indicates the average landed price for chicken meat in South Africa.

The average landed prices for broiler meat in South Africa in January 2015, before tariff payments, decrease by eight per cent on a year-on-year basis and by 13 per cent since the beginning of 2013.

Thus, without tariff increases, the South Africa consumer would have paid at least 13 per cent less for broiler meat, compared to local price increases of 13 per cent since 2013.