# Astral Foods confirms it will report its first loss in upcoming results

> Astral Foods, one of South Africa's largest chicken producers, expects headline earnings per share to fall 145% to 155%, which would make its first annual loss since its 2001 JSE listing. The company blames load-shedding costs, including feeding birds it could not slaughter on time, and high feed and diesel costs. It is selling chicken at a loss because price increases have lagged.

- Date: 2023-10-31 · published 2023-10-31T12:00:00.000Z
- Category: macro · region South Africa · magnitude low
- Page: https://feedsoft.ai/events/33774-astral-foods-confirms-it-will-report-its-first-loss-in-upcoming-results
- Commodities: [Chicken](https://feedsoft.ai/c/CHICKEN.md), [ULSD / Diesel](https://feedsoft.ai/c/DIESEL.md)

## Why it matters

Financial strain at a major South African producer reflects the feed and energy cost squeeze on local poultry. Reduced bird numbers and slaughter backlogs could lower domestic feed demand over time, with limited direct effect on world grain prices.

## Read by commodity

- DIESEL: bullish ▲
- CHICKEN: bearish ▼

## Similar past events

| Commodity | Date | Event | 5-day % | 20-day % |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| DIESEL | 2019-06-14 | [One of the biggest environmental regulations ever is coming and it will wreak havoc - FreightWaves](https://feedsoft.ai/events/58770-one-of-the-biggest-environmental-regulations-ever-is-coming-and-it-will-wreak.md) | +4.5% | +9.9% |
| DIESEL | 2019-02-21 | [Paradigm shift coming for oil industry  - Business in Vancouver](https://feedsoft.ai/events/60797-paradigm-shift-coming-for-oil-industry-business-in-vancouver.md) | +0.3% | -0.5% |
| DIESEL | 2020-11-09 | [Oil soars 8.5% on promising Covid-19 vaccine results](https://feedsoft.ai/events/11791-oil-soars-8-5-on-promising-covid-19-vaccine-results.md) | +5.1% | +22.2% |
| DIESEL | 2024-12-12 | [Global diesel prices to rely on refinery closures for support in 2025](https://feedsoft.ai/events/27158-global-diesel-prices-to-rely-on-refinery-closures-for-support-in-2025.md) | +1.1% | +12.9% |
| DIESEL | 2026-06-26 | [US diesel refining economics remain firm despite Iran war truce \| Reuters](https://feedsoft.ai/events/19002-us-diesel-refining-economics-remain-firm-despite-iran-war-truce-reuters.md) | -3.4% | +27.5% |

## Sources

- businessday.co.za: https://www.businessday.co.za/bd/companies/industrials/2023-10-31-astral-foods-confirms-it-will-report-its-first-loss-in-upcoming-results/

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