South Africa Charcoal Briquettes Market Size & Share Analysis - Trends, Drivers, Competitive Landscape, and Forecasts (2024 - 2030)

South African Charcoal Briquettes Market Trends & Drivers

Increasing Usage of Instant-Light Charcoal Briquettes

• The increasing usage of instant-light charcoal briquettes is observed as a key trend in the South African charcoal briquettes market. Charcoal briquettes are commonly used in South Africa for cooking applications, primarily barbecue.
• However, the preparation of barbecue using conventional charcoal briquettes is a tedious process, as it requires kindling, rekindling, and constant monitoring in order to control the heat generated by the charcoal briquettes till they burn properly and become ready for use. Constant monitoring becomes important, since excessive heat production may cause the food to burn.
• Further, to control the heat, people commonly use a paper fan or hair dryer. Thus, to avoid such hassles, people in the country are increasingly preferring instant-light charcoal briquettes over conventional ones.
• These instant-light charcoal briquettes are easy to use, as the paper bag they come in makes the lighting process easy, clean, and quick, with the briquettes ready for barbeque within 20 minutes of burning, without requiring the constant monitoring of heat.
• Thus, in view of the growing popularity of instant-light charcoal briquettes among consumers, many companies in South Africa have started offering these charcoal briquettes.
• For instance, E&C Charcoal (Pty) Ltd. offers these briquettes under the brand name BRAAI KETTS. These are wax-coated charcoal briquettes that come in the paper packaging of one or two kilograms for ease of use.

Low Cost of Charcoal Briquettes

• The relatively low cost of charcoal briquettes compared to lump charcoal and other heating fuels such as liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) for cooking purposes is one of the key factors driving the demand for charcoal briquettes in South Africa, especially for household use.
• Charcoal briquettes are made from wood (of size less than 50 millimeters) and powder left after the production of charcoal. The leftover materials are mixed with some chemicals, such as binders and accelerators, to produce charcoal briquettes. Since these are produced using leftover materials, they cost less.
• Furthermore, all charcoal briquettes packed in a bag are of the same size, making the handling easy during transportation, which may not be true in the case of lump charcoal. This further reduces the transportation cost of charcoal briquettes, thereby lowering their overall cost.
• Moreover, despite subsidized electricity in Sub-Saharan countries, including South Africa, several households in the country prefer retaining biomass fuel, such as charcoal briquettes, in their energy mix due to its low cost.

Environmental Regulations with Respect to Deforestation

• Charcoal is one of the major basic materials of charcoal briquettes, it is considered to have a negative environmental effect. The production of charcoal is carried out from blocks of trees. Thus, one of the major problems is deforestation.
• Various small unorganized players follow inappropriate ways of producing charcoal to fulfill the need for energy, as sustainable solutions, such as the usage of metal kilns.
• As per Global Forest Watch, an open-source web application created by the World Resources Institute to monitor global forests in near real-time, from 2002 to 2022, South Africa lost 12.2 kha of humid primary forest, which overall decreased equivalent to a 9.7% decrease in tree cover since 2002.
• In addition, deforestation also causes a negative impact on the native species. Some government agencies are focusing on preventing biodiversity loss and ensuring sustainable ecosystem management. For instance, the International Union for Conservation of Nature is a joint effort of various other national agencies.
• Thus, the rising pressure of regulatory bodies is moderately restraining the growth of the market.

South Africa Charcoal Briquettes Industry Outlook

Type Insights

• Based on type, the oval/pillow category accounts for the largest size in the South African charcoal briquettes market, and it is expected to witness the fastest growth in the coming years as well.
• In South Africa, charcoal briquettes are mostly produced within the country, and local manufacturers find those in the oval shape easier to produce, compared to other types of charcoal briquettes, such as hexagonal and coconut shells.
• On the other hand, the round category was the second-largest category in 2023. This is attributed to its uniform shape, which enhances burning and heat distribution, which may lead to more consistent cooking results.

Types covered in the report include:

• Oval/Pillow (Largest and Fastest-Growing Category)
• Round
• Hexagonal
• Coconut Shell

Application Insights

• On the basis of application, the barbecue category accounts for the largest market share and also it is projected to record the highest CAGR during the forecast period.
• Barbecue is a deep-rooted tradition in South Africa; it is considered one of the best ways of connecting with loved ones and enjoying a meal together, especially during summertime.
• Moreover, charcoal briquettes are commonly used in barbecues due to their longer burning time, maximum heat output, and high efficiency in producing heat. Further, charcoal briquettes are easy to light and maintain making them popular among barbecue enthusiasts.
• Further, the increasing tourist count in the country is boosting its hospitality sector, and more hotels are opening in the country in order to meet the growing accommodation demand.
• Owing to such factors, the demand for barbecue fuel is increasing in the country. Since low heat for a longer period is required for barbecue, the demand for charcoal briquettes is increasing in the country.

The following applications are included in the report:

• Barbecue (Largest and Fastest-Growing Category)
• Industrial
• Metallurgical Fuel

Composition Insights

• By composition, the wood category held a larger share in the market and it is expected to grow at a higher CAGR over the forecast period.
• This is due to the availability of wood; wood is renewable and it provides the necessary carbon content for charcoal production.
• Wood also produces a desirable aroma and flavor when burned, enhancing the barbecue experience. Additionally, using wood for charcoal production supports sustainable forestry practices when harvested responsibly.

Composition categories covered in the report are:

• Wood (Larger and Faster-Growing Category)
• Others

Competitive Analysis

The South African charcoal briquettes market is highly fragmented in nature, with the presence of numerous small, unorganized players. This creates an opportunity for the bigger, organized players to capture a larger market share collectively. Companies are mainly involved in eco-friendly briquettes to protect the environment.

South Africa Charcoal Briquettes Industry News

In May 2022, Springbok Braai Premium Charcoal launched its new premium, ecological, and eco-friendly charcoal and briquettes created from hardwood trees. A typical Southern African BBQ, or braai (Brr-Eyee), is a gathering of delicious food, good company, and good times. In South Africa, hearing the word “Braai” is always sure to make people grin. And now to every American backyard barbecue.