The country has faced resurgent foot-and-mouth infections since early 2025 when the disease spread to seven of its nine provinces. Beef shipments to China fell 69% to 1,687 metric tons last year following the ban imposed in May, according ‌to statistics from industry body Red Meat Industry Services (RMIS) seen by Reuters on Wednesday. China was South Africa’s third ‌biggest external market in 2024 after the United Arab Emirates and Jordan. When the highly contagious viral disease broke out on James Kean’s dairy farm in Mooi River late January, his normal seasonal farm expenses had increased by 1 million rand ($62,985.38) as he fought to keep ⁠infections out.

Full report : South African farmers count mounting losses as foot-and-mouth disease rages.