Updated: 2025 • Industry: Food & Beverage Gases • Region: South Africa
Overview — Why CO₂ Pricing Matters for South African Beverage & Food Companies
Carbon dioxide (CO₂) is one of the most essential raw materials in the beverage and food-processing industries. From carbonation in soft drinks to pH control,
packaging, modified-atmosphere storage, and brewery operations, CO₂ directly affects production stability, product consistency, and operational cost.
In 2024–2025, South Africa experienced periodic CO₂ shortages caused by refinery shutdowns, feedstock limitations, and regional seasonal demand
spikes—especially during high-consumption periods for beer and carbonated beverages. As local supply tightens, CO₂ pricing has become a critical decision factor for South African bottlers, breweries, cold-chain operators, and food manufacturers.
Understanding actual market pricing, cost drivers, and import alternatives helps procurement teams make strategic decisions that reduce operational risk and control cost.
CO₂ Price Range in South Africa (2026 Estimates)
Below is the 2026 estimated price landscape for industrial and food-grade CO₂ across South Africa. Prices vary depending on volume, region, and packaging format.
Estimated CO₂ Pricing (South Africa, 2026)
| CO₂ Format | Estimated Market Price Range (South Africa) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Bulk Liquid CO₂ (per ton) | R 6,000 – R 10,800 | Pricing varies based on location and supplier availability. |
| Food-Grade CO₂ (per ton) | R 7600 – R 13,000 | 99.9% purity; required for beverage application. |
| Cylinder CO₂ (50 kg) | R 650 – R 950 | Higher cost due to handling, filling, and logistics. |
| Dry Ice (per kg) | R 60 – R 75 | Seasonal spikes up to +25% during summer. |
Why Prices Fluctuate: refinery feedstock shortages; load-shedding impacts on gas production; seasonal demand (summer / brewery peak season);
local production downtime; and high delivery cost to inland regions (e.g., Johannesburg).
Cost Breakdown — What Determines CO₂ Pricing in South Africa?
Understanding the cost structure helps procurement departments evaluate whether a quote is fair—and whether importing CO₂ makes sense.
1. Raw Material Source
South African CO₂ comes from ethanol fermentation, ammonia production, and refinery by-products. When these plants shut down for maintenance, CO₂ supply tightens and prices rise.
2. Purification & Liquefaction Costs
Energy-intensive steps include compression, drying, liquefaction and purity filtration (especially for 99.9% food-grade CO₂). Electricity cost volatility affects the final price.
3. Transportation Costs
CO₂ must be transported in ISO tanks (bulk), road tankers, or cylinders/bundles. Transport from Durban or Cape Town to inland cities can add 15–30% to the delivered price.
4. Packaging
Cylinder CO₂ is significantly more expensive due to cylinder asset maintenance, valve & safety inspections, refilling labor, and higher transportation cost per kg.
5. Seasonality
Peak beer consumption and hot weather increase dry ice and CO₂ demand, triggering price hikes.
Local CO₂ Supply vs Imported CO₂ — Pricing Comparison
South African beverage companies typically source CO₂ from local plants or East African producers. However, 2024–2025 data indicates rising interest in imported CO₂—mainly from China—because of quality consistency and cost advantage.
Local South African CO₂ Suppliers — Pros & Cons
| Advantages | Challenges |
|---|---|
| Faster delivery | Periodic shortages |
| Easier logistics | Seasonal price fluctuations |
| Established distribution network | Limited capacity |
Why East African CO₂ Suppliers Are Often More Expensive
Many South African processors currently purchase CO₂ from East Africa, but face challenges such as higher per-ton production cost, long-distance road transport cost, export fees and price volatility due to regional shortages. Many beverage groups in South Africa, Central Africa, and East Africa report consistently high import CO₂ prices from East African suppliers.
Importing CO₂ From China — Cost Advantage for 2026
China’s CO₂ production scale is globally leading. Benefits include lower per-ton manufacturing cost, stable supply (multiple large-scale facilities), food-grade purity availability, and bulk shipment via ISO tanks (cheapest long-distance mode).
Delivered pricing to South Africa often remains competitive even after ocean freight, import duties, and inland delivery. This creates strong margin room for distributors and bottling groups.
Importing CO₂ into South Africa — Cost & Logistics Considerations
ISO Tank Shipments
Advantages: Most cost-effective method. Large volume (20–25 tons per tank), lowest cost per ton, reduced labor and handling — best for bottling plants & distributors.
Cylinder Shipments
Suitable for small beverage factories, pilot production lines and emergency backup supply.
Transit Time
Typical transit times (example):
- China → Durban: 25–33 days
- China → Cape Town: 26–34 days
- Customs + inland delivery: 3–7 days
Total typical lead time: 35–45 days.
CO₂ Supplier Comparison — Local vs East Africa vs Imported (China)
| Category | South Africa | East Africa | Imported (China) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price stability | Medium | Low | High |
| Cost per ton | Medium | High | Low |
| Purity range | 99.5–99.9% | Varies | food-grade |
| Seasonal shortages | Medium | High | Low |
| Supply capacity | Limited | Limited | Very high |
| Best for | Local operations | Emergency supply | Large-scale beverage, breweries |
How Beverage Companies Can Reduce CO₂ Costs in 2026
Practical ways to reduce procurement cost:
- Use ISO Tanks Instead of Cylinders — Bulk delivery reduces per-ton price by 25–45%.
- Avoid Peak-Season Purchasing — Costs spike during December–March and summer heat periods.
- Combine Local + Import Sourcing — This mitigates the risk of refinery shutdowns.
- Sign 6–12 Month Contracts — Help stabilize the budget.
Case Insight — How One African Bottler Reduced CO₂ Cost by Importing
A mid-size beverage company in East & Southern Africa previously relied on a regional supplier. High transport cost and seasonal shortages pushed the price above market average.
After switching to imported Chinese CO₂ via ISO tanks:
- Cost per ton reduced by ~18%
- Delivery consistency improved
- Purity upgraded
This demonstrates the commercial feasibility of imported CO₂ for African markets.
Conclusion — CO₂ Pricing Outlook & Supplier Strategy for 2026
In 2026, South Africa’s CO₂ market will continue to experience seasonal shortages, higher costs for cylinder-based supply, and increased demand from beverage and cold-chain sectors.
Using imported CO₂—especially bulk liquid CO₂ from China—provides cost savings, high purity, stable long-term sourcing and reduced seasonal risk.
For bottlers and beverage companies, a hybrid sourcing strategy (local + import) is the most cost-effective and stable solution for 2026.
Get CO₂ Pricing or COA for South Africa
YIGAS supplies food-grade CO₂ to African beverage & food industries through ISO tanks, cylinders, and customized bulk solutions.
Request Quotation / COA — liuxiaolong@yigas.cn
Or visit our website for product specs and packaging options.
FAQ — About Food-Grade CO₂ in South Africa
1. What is the typical purity for food-grade CO₂?
Food-grade CO₂ generally meets ≥99.9% purity (gas) or ≥99.5% (liquid), verified by COA and chromatography testing.
2. What are the main delivery options?
Compressed gas cylinders, ISO tanks (bulk liquid), and dry ice shipments are the most common options for food & beverage companies.
3. Can YIGAS export CO₂ to South Africa?
Yes. YIGAS offers food-grade CO₂ exported from certified plants in China, delivered to Johannesburg, Cape Town, Durban, and other ports.
References & Further Reading
For international food-grade CO₂ handling and beverage industry recommendations, see the International Society of Beverage Technologists (ISBT) guidance:
ISBT — International Society of Beverage Technologists.
For standards and national guidance relevant to South Africa, you may refer to the official South African National Standards (SANS) and South African Bureau of Standards (SABS) websites for food-contact gas compliance:
• SABS Official Website:
https://www.sabs.co.za/
• SANS Standards Catalogue:
https://store.sabs.co.za/
