# High input costs from load shedding, failing SA infrastructure bludgeons Astral’s interims 90% lower

> Astral Foods, South Africa's largest integrated poultry producer, reported interim earnings down about 88-90% for the six months to March, with operating profit at R98m. Higher costs for feed, diesel, energy and wages, plus R741m in load-shedding costs, drove the decline despite price increases. Shares fell about 5% after the results.

- Date: 2023-05-23 · published 2023-05-23T12:00:00.000Z
- Category: macro · region South Africa · magnitude low
- Page: https://feedsoft.ai/events/36082-high-input-costs-from-load-shedding-failing-sa-infrastructure-bludgeons-astral
- Commodities: [Corn](https://feedsoft.ai/c/CORN.md), [Soybeans](https://feedsoft.ai/c/SOY.md)

## Why it matters

Company-specific earnings weakness reflects high feed and energy costs in South African poultry, which may curb broiler output and feed demand. The impact on global grain or meal prices is limited.

## Read by commodity

- SOY: neutral
- CORN: neutral

## Similar past events

| Commodity | Date | Event | 5-day % | 20-day % |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| CORN | 2019-07-23 | [High production, competing proteins, closed foreign markets challenge U.S. chicken industry](https://feedsoft.ai/events/58239-high-production-competing-proteins-closed-foreign-markets-challenge-u-s-chicken.md) | +0.9% | -10.8% |
| CORN | 2020-11-20 | [Decoding the price fluctuations of 2020 feed byproducts - High Plains Journal](https://feedsoft.ai/events/50261-decoding-the-price-fluctuations-of-2020-feed-byproducts-high-plains-journal.md) | +0.1% | +1.2% |
| CORN | 2023-07-25 | [Argentine IMF concessions risk further fueling red hot inflation](https://feedsoft.ai/events/35332-argentine-imf-concessions-risk-further-fueling-red-hot-inflation.md) | -13.4% | -17.1% |
| CORN | 2026-03-06 | [Biofuels hit a crossroads as costs climb, policy lags \| Feed & Grain](https://feedsoft.ai/events/15045-biofuels-hit-a-crossroads-as-costs-climb-policy-lags-feed-and-grain.md) | +1.2% | +2.2% |
| CORN | 2019-09-20 | [China cuts new loan rate for second month but struggling economy likely needs more](https://feedsoft.ai/events/57291-china-cuts-new-loan-rate-for-second-month-but-struggling-economy-likely-needs.md) | +1.7% | +4.4% |
| SOY | 2018-02-08 | [China's Yuan Toppled From Two-Year High as Trade Data Surprises - Bloomberg](https://feedsoft.ai/events/7104-china-s-yuan-toppled-from-two-year-high-as-trade-data-surprises-bloomberg.md) | +3.5% | +7.2% |
| SOY | 2026-07-30 | [Brazil fertilizer deliveries seen falling at least 10%](https://feedsoft.ai/events/18687-brazil-fertilizer-deliveries-seen-falling-at-least-10.md) | -2.2% | +6.5% |
| SOY | 2026-01-27 | [Dollar sinks to four-year low as intervention risk lifts yen](https://feedsoft.ai/events/21293-dollar-sinks-to-four-year-low-as-intervention-risk-lifts-yen.md) | -0.1% | +7.3% |

## Sources

- thestar.co.za: https://thestar.co.za/business-report/companies/2023-05-23-high-input-costs-from-load-shedding-failing-sa-infrastructure-bludgeons-astrals-interims-90-lower/

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