Meat prices are at their highest levels in years, but prices to farmers have not increased to the same extent.

By Alani Janeke, senior journalist at African Farming and Landbouweekblad

Paul Makube, senior agricultural economist at FNB Business, says meat prices are currently at their highest levels in about eight years. According to Statistics South Africa, meat prices were 12,2% higher in November 2025 than a year earlier – the biggest annual increase since 2018.

This increase, together with rising vegetable prices, pushed food inflation for the year to 4,4%.

The main reason is the outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD), Makube says. “This disrupted cattle farming and the supply of beef, making it more difficult for farmers to sell their animals in the market.”

Also read: Market Pulse | Livestock markets show strong annual growth despite weekly dips

Increases for Consumers

As a result, meat prices have surged:

Beef sirloin increased by 37%.

Beef rump increased by 32%.

Beef T-bone increased by 29%.

Lamb increased by 29%.

Mutton loin and rib chops increased by 13%.

Pork chops increased by 12%.

Pork ribs increased by 11%.

Chicken, a staple of many families, saw the price of individually quick-frozen portions increase by almost 6%.

Makube says that while global food prices are declining – with the United Nations reporting a 2% drop compared with the previous year – the impact of FMD and supply disruptions is putting pressure on South Africans at the till.

Meat lovers may get some relief early in 2026, as demand for meat typically falls at this time of year.

Makube says producer prices have also increased, but not to the same extent as retail prices. “Farmers therefore earn much less than what consumers pay.”

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Favourable Weather Conditions and Lower Import Numbers

Independent agricultural economist Prof Johan Willemse says FMD is not the only factor affecting meat prices. Following dry conditions in 2023 and 2024, many farmers were forced to sell more livestock. But good rainfall later in 2024 and in 2025 enabled farmers to hold back more animals to rebuild their herds.

Improved weather conditions and the fact that more abattoirs in Namibia have started doing business have resulted in fewer cattle and sheep being exported to South Africa.

Willemse says Namibia’s weaner calf exports, which were more than 300 000 in 2024, fell to about 60 000 in 2025.

This trend is also evident in the slaughter statistics compiled by Red Meat Industry Services (RMIS): 2 822 464 cattle were slaughtered in 2024, compared with 2 186 677 in 2025. The difference is even greater for sheep: 5 077 681 sheep were slaughtered in 2024, compared with 3 752 526 in 2025.

How Prices Are Rising for Farmers

According to price information on the RMIS website, maintained by RMIS and Absa Agri, average slaughter prices for class A beef increased from R54,55 in 2024 to R67,92 in 2025. By December 2025, it reached R71,45/kg.

The average weaner calf price was R20,35/kg live weight in 2016. This increased to R38,80/kg in 2021 before declining to R32,43/kg in 2024 and picking up again to average at R37,10/kg in 2025. In December 2025, it reached R40,95/kg.

For sheep, the average slaughter price for class A mutton increased from R86,07/kg in 2024 to R100,97/kg in 2025. In 2016, this price stood at R58,94/kg. The average price rose to R109,17 in December 2025.

The average price for feedlot lambs increased by R6,48/kg live weight, from R40,40/kg in 2024 to R46,88/kg in 2025. In 2016, the average price was R29,28/kg. The price rose to R48,07/kg in December 2025.