The tradition of barbecued food among the natives of South Africa is creating a significant demand for charcoal briquettes in the country. Over the weekends, it is one of the most-enjoyed pastime activities among South Africans. People prepare barbecued food themselves and enjoy it with their loved ones. As a cooking fuel, charcoal briquettes are commonly used for the preparation of barbecued food, since they provide low heat for a long period of time, which is a necessity for barbecuing food; otherwise, the food could burn. Owing to such factors, the South African charcoal briquettes market is expected to showcase a CAGR of 8.8% during the forecast period (2020–2030), in order to reach $286.7 million by 2030.
In the wake of COVID-19, the country had implemented a complete lockdown, due to which the hospitality sector had been shut down to a large extent, in order to prevent unnecessary gatherings, which may increase the risk of the spread of the coronavirus disease. Further, the grounding of international flights resulted in no new overseas arrival in the country during the lockdown, which has impacted its tourism sector.
Moreover, barbecue is a tradition in South Africa, and every weekend, there is an increase in the demand for charcoal briquettes for grilling purposes. People meet their friends, peers, and colleagues over the weekends and enjoy barbecue. But due to the pandemic, people are avoiding public gatherings in order to curtail the spread of the disease. This has further affected the demand for charcoal briquettes in South Africa.
Barbecue To Remain Dominant Application of Charcoal Briquettes
Based on application, the South African charcoal briquettes market is categorized into barbecue, industrial, metallurgical fuel, and others. Among these, barbecue applications dominated the market during the historical period (2014–2019), and it is expected to retain its position during the forecast period, on account of the increasing tourism activities in the country. People visit the country to experience its rich culture, scenic landscapes, and soul-satisfying food. As per South African Tourism, in 2019, the country witnessed 29.0 million overnight trips, an increase of 7.5% from the 27.0 million trips registered in 2018.
Based on type, the South African charcoal briquettes market has been classified into oval, hexagonal, coconut shell, and others. Of these, the oval category captured the largest market share during the historical period. Local manufacturers of charcoal briquettes largely produce the oval shape, since they find it easier to produce oval briquettes, compared to other types of charcoal.
Large Number of Small, Unorganized Players Result in Fragmented Market
In South Africa, the charcoal briquettes market is highly fragmented in nature, with the presence of numerous small, unorganized players. These players are mainly based in the rural areas of the country, which is why not many follow all the standards required for the production of charcoal briquettes. E & C Charcoal (Pty) Ltd., Ignite Products, Namchar (Pty) Ltd., Braai & BBQ, Umlilo Charcoal Products (Pty) Ltd., SAFIRE CHARKA (Pty) Limited, Safari Braai Products, Blaze Braai, Rapid Fire Charcoal and Briquettes CC, and Braaistar are some of the key players operating in the market.