But the consumers\u2019 reaction to the outbreak has led to a drop in prices for pork products while the prices of other meat products are on the rise\u201a said Paul Makube\u201a senior agricultural economist at FNB Agri-Business.<\/p>\n
The National Institute for Communicable Diseases indicated in a report on Sunday that 199 people had died from the listeria outbreak. The outbreak led to a drop in demand for cold and processed meats.<\/p>\n
Makube said in a statement that the pork industry had unnecessarily suffered a severe blow after the outbreak and added that the loss to the value chain so far could exceed R1-billion.<\/p>\n
\u201cPork farmers have now had to redirect the pigs for the fresh meat market thereby creating a surplus\u201a\u201d Makube said in a statement. \u201cIn so doing [they] have further increased pressure on low prices.\u201d<\/p>\n
Johann Kotz\u00e9\u201a CEO of South African Pork Producers\u2019 Organisation\u201a told TimesLIVE earlier this month that the industry was losing R45-million a week and that the price of a pig had dropped between 40% and 50%.<\/p>\n
FNB said that the drop in pork prices could be positive for one group of people: consumers looking to save money. Prices for other meats are up about 6%\u201a according to FNB.<\/p>\n
Additionally\u201a FNB said a drop in the price of maize\u201a a large component of livestock feed\u201a would most likely keep pork prices low.<\/p>\n
\u201cSA now has a surplus in maize and the expected 2017\/18 production is estimated at over 12.42 million tons\u201a\u201d Makube said. \u201cTherefore\u201a if maize prices remain flat they will have a major impact in sustaining the lower prices for consumers.\u201d<\/p>\n
Kotz\u00e9 said earlier in the month that the drop in demand for pork would hit small farmers particularly hard. Arnold Prinsloo\u201a South African Meat Processors Association chairperson\u201a told Times Select earlier that the outbreak was costing the processed meat industry hundreds of millions per month.<\/p>\n