Astral Foods has reported solid results for the financial year ending 30 September 2025, supported by higher broiler production, improved market conditions, and careful cost management.
The company’s revenue rose 10.4% to R22.6 billion, up from R20.5 billion in 2024. The Poultry Division contributed 82.5% of sales, with the Feed Division making up 17.5%. Operating profit increased 10.9% to R1.25 billion. Excluding last year’s one-off insurance payouts, underlying profits jumped 42.8%, reflecting stronger core performance.
Astral ended the year with over R1 billion in cash and invested R336 million in new equipment and operational improvements. The company also resumed dividend payments, giving shareholders R285 million, including a final dividend of 880 cents per share, bringing total payouts to 1 100 cents more than double last year.
CEO Gary Arnold said the pressure onnthe first half of the year didn,’t derail them.
“Astral faced tremendous pressure on earnings in the first half of the year, but achieved a good recovery in the second half to finish in a strong financial position.”
He added that the company’s turnaround since 2023, after challenges like national power outages and bird flu, has restored financial strength and positioned Astral to pursue growth opportunities.
Revenue in the Feed Division rose 9.8% to R10.8 billion, while operating profit climbed 31.1% to R713.8 million. The Poultry Division saw revenue increase 10.3% to R18.8 billion, with broiler slaughter volumes reaching 5.8 million birds per week. Operating profit declined slightly to R533.6 million, but underlying performance improved by more than 50%. Poultry imports fell 20% due to bird flu outbreaks abroad.
The South African poultry industry faces ongoing pressures, including bird flu, electricity outages, high feed costs, slow economic growth, reduced export opportunities, and regulatory scrutiny. Despite these challenges, Astral remains optimistic, with maize prices, higher production volumes, and efficiency improvements expected to support growth.
