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Foot-and-mouth disease outbreaks across South Africa have cost the country its FMD-free-without-vaccination status, disrupted movement and export access, and contributed to higher beef, lamb and mutton prices. Beef exports fell 26.1% year on year in 2024, while China suspended imports following outbreaks; the government has declared a national disaster and is expanding vaccine procurement and local production.
Disease controls and import suspensions constrain South African meat supply in export markets, while limiting local producers’ market access and disrupting domestic supply chains. Reduced export availability can support prices, although the loss of export outlets may weigh on prices received by affected producers.
marketwatch.com.naFMD rewrites the rulesNov 9, 2026After 148 past bullish disease events, Live Cattle moved a median +0.4% over 5 sessions (62% higher; middle half -0.5% to +1.2%), and +1.4% over 20.
Moves of each commodity's benchmark from the last close before the event. Historical reads pool past events of the same kind; they describe what happened, not what will. Not investment advice.
