Beef carcass prices followed a downward trend in August, with Class A and Class C prices decreasing by 1,5% and 4,1% respectively (see Graph 1) month-on-month (m/m). Year-on-year (y/y), however, the Class A beef price was 16% higher, and the Class C price 1,4% higher.
Despite strong annual price growth, profitability as indicated by the beef-to-maize price ratio shows that industry margins are under severe pressure. This is largely the result of