Namibia exported a total of 2.9 million kilogrammes (kg) of beef during the first quarter of 2024, of which almost half of the exports at 1.27 million kg was destined to the European Union (EU), official figures show.
According to the Livestock and Livestock Products Board’s Trade Statistician Fransina Angula, top beef export destinations for the period under review included UK (799,114kg), Norway (402,568kg), South Africa (381,072kg) and China (72,539kg), while African countries took up the least volumes.
“Interestingly, a total of 976kg of beef was exported to the USA during the quarter under review, whereas beef imports totalled 217,557kg during the first quarter of the year. Of this amount, 58,096kg consisted of beef liver while 159,461kg consisted of processed and canned beef, serving to complement domestic production,” she said.
Overall, Angula said the sector performed well, as both the livestock and meat industry witnessed an increase in marketing activities during the first quarter of 2024, with the cattle sector recording a remarkable growth rate of 47.9%.
Angula said, during the first quarter of 2024, a total of 86,693 cattle were marketed across all marketing channels.
Of this total, 57,562 were exported live on hoof to neighbouring SADC member states, 21,525 heads were slaughtered at local A-class abattoirs and 7,879 heads were slaughtered at various Livestock and Livestock Products Board of Namibia (LLPBN)-registered B & C class abattoirs nationwide.
This brings the growth of the cattle sector up by 47.9% from 58,607 heads marketed during the same quarter of 2023.
“Similarly, the sheep, goat and pig sectors all saw growth rates surpassing 10%. The growth in the cattle sector positively affected beef production, leading to a doubling of beef exports,” said Angula.
“However, the limited rainfall received during the period under review coupled with high input costs continue threatening the sustainability of the sector. The sector is expected to remain under severe pressure as farmers prepare for drier conditions for the reminder of the season,” she added.
With regard to sheep, the sector recorded an increase in activity of 15.7% led by live exports and slaughtering at A-class abattoirs.
Live exports increased by 29.3% growing from 118,853 heads in the first quarter of 2023 to 153,713 heads in 2024.
“While the live export segment recorded a significant growth, A-class as well as B & C class abattoirs activities declined by 12.0 per cent and 20.8 per cent respectively, going from a combined total of 50,331 heads in 2023 down to 41,989 heads in 2024. The change in marketing dynamics is attributed to drought and partially on low producer prices paid by local A–class abattoirs. As a result, farmers are opting to sell their slaughter-ready animals to Northern Cape abattoirs due to relatively competitive prices offered by these abattoirs,” Angula said.
Moreover, the goat sector witnessed a growth of 12.1% with a total of 23,369 goats marketed during 2024 compared to 20,839 goats marketed during the same period in 2023.
The growth is owed to an increase in live exports that grew by 18.84%. Additionally, lamb auction prices averaged N$29.47/kg down from N$34.84/kg recorded during the first quarter of 2023.
A further growth was realised in the pork sector where 12,253 pigs were marketed at LLPBN-approved abattoirs in the first quarter of 2024, which is 10.3% higher than the 11,113 pigs marketed during the first quarter of 2023.
“Domestic consumption inclusive of processed pork amounted to 2,224,823kg by the end of the quarter. Domestic production made up 49.4 per cent of pork consumption while imports made up the remaining 50.6 per cent of domestic pork requirements,” she said.
“Of the imported pork, 48.2 per cent originated from Germany, followed by South Africa, Botswana and Spain with a market share of 23.6 per cent, 12.1 per cent and 10.4 per cent, respectively. The remaining 5.7 per cent originated from China and other European countries.
“Therefore, comparing activities of the three marketing channels, it is evident that there was a shift in slaughtering dynamics during the first quarter as farmers opted to market their animals at export approved abattoirs as opposed to marketing at B & C class abattoirs. As a result, A-class abattoirs increased their market share by 4.8 percent whilst B & C class abattoirs dropped its market share by 54.1 per cent during the first quarter of 2024. In real terms, B & C Class abattoirs market share lost 4,023 animals to live exports and Butchers during the quarter under review in comparison to the first quarter of 2023,” Angula added.
