# Avian flu, rising costs hit African poultry producers | WATTPoultry.com

> South Africa has recorded 94 outbreaks of H7N6 avian influenza affecting more than 8.3 million poultry, plus 14 H5N1 outbreaks since April. More than 20% of the country's laying hens have died or been culled, and supermarket egg shelves are reportedly empty.

- Date: 2023-11-02 · published 2023-11-02T12:00:00.000Z
- Category: disease · region South Africa · magnitude low
- Page: https://feedsoft.ai/events/33322-avian-flu-rising-costs-hit-african-poultry-producers-wattpoultry-com
- Commodities: [Chicken](https://feedsoft.ai/c/CHICKEN.md), [Corn](https://feedsoft.ai/c/CORN.md), [Soybean Meal](https://feedsoft.ai/c/SBM.md)

## Why it matters

Losses in South African layer and broiler flocks cut feed demand and raise regional poultry prices, with possible import needs for eggs and chicken.

## Read by commodity

- SBM: bearish ▼
- CORN: bearish ▼
- CHICKEN: bullish ▲

## Similar past events

| Commodity | Date | Event | 5-day % | 20-day % |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| CORN | 2017-09-03 | [Avian Flu crisis: Poultry producers slam govt](https://feedsoft.ai/events/68970-avian-flu-crisis-poultry-producers-slam-govt.md) | +0.6% | +1.9% |
| CORN | 2021-01-13 | [Indian poultry market hit by avian flu scares \| WATTPoultry.com](https://feedsoft.ai/events/49147-indian-poultry-market-hit-by-avian-flu-scares-wattpoultry-com.md) | +2.0% | +7.5% |
| CORN | 2021-06-16 | [South Africa’s poultry sector focuses on avian flu control \| WATTPoultry.com](https://feedsoft.ai/events/46579-south-africa-s-poultry-sector-focuses-on-avian-flu-control-wattpoultry-com.md) | -2.3% | +2.5% |
| CORN | 2016-12-13 | [Cost of Ukrainian avian flu outbreak high \| WATTAgNet \| WATTPoultry.com](https://feedsoft.ai/events/73622-cost-of-ukrainian-avian-flu-outbreak-high-wattagnet-wattpoultry-com.md) | -1.7% | +0.0% |
| CORN | 2026-04-03 | [US has lost more than 1,000 commercial flocks to avian flu \| WATTPoultry.com](https://feedsoft.ai/events/19726-us-has-lost-more-than-1-000-commercial-flocks-to-avian-flu-wattpoultry-com.md) | -1.8% | +2.8% |
| SBM | 2021-01-13 | [Indian poultry market hit by avian flu scares \| WATTPoultry.com](https://feedsoft.ai/events/49147-indian-poultry-market-hit-by-avian-flu-scares-wattpoultry-com.md) | -3.0% | -4.4% |
| SBM | 2021-06-16 | [South Africa’s poultry sector focuses on avian flu control \| WATTPoultry.com](https://feedsoft.ai/events/46579-south-africa-s-poultry-sector-focuses-on-avian-flu-control-wattpoultry-com.md) | -1.8% | -3.8% |
| SBM | 2026-04-03 | [US has lost more than 1,000 commercial flocks to avian flu \| WATTPoultry.com](https://feedsoft.ai/events/19726-us-has-lost-more-than-1-000-commercial-flocks-to-avian-flu-wattpoultry-com.md) | +4.0% | +2.7% |

## Sources

- wattagnet.com: https://www.wattagnet.com/poultry-meat/diseases-health/avian-influenza/article/15637800/avian-flu-rising-costs-hit-african-poultry-producers

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Data from Feedsoft AI (https://feedsoft.ai/). For information only; not investment advice.