Namibia’s beef exports dropped sharply in the second quarter of 2025, with volumes down nearly 50% compared to the same period last year, according to the latest figures released by the Livestock and Livestock Products Board of Namibia (LLPBN).
“Year-on-year, beef exports totalled 4,036,300 kg during the period under review, marking a significant decrease of 49.7 percent compared to the 8,031,908 kg exported during the same period in 2024,” the Board reported.
The European Union remained the primary export destination, accounting for 82.6% of total volumes. Other key markets included Norway (10.8%), China (2.4%), with the remainder shipped to South Africa, Botswana and Angola.
Despite the export downturn, beef prices strengthened. The s-VCF B2-grade beef averaged N$67.36/kg, reflecting a year-on-year increase of N$7.60/kg. Movement restrictions triggered by outbreaks of lumpy skin disease in some areas further limited the availability of cattle at auctions, resulting in a 23.8% surge in s-VCF weaner prices to N$30.26/kg, up from N$24.45/kg in Q2 2024.
Overall cattle marketing recorded a steep 59.4% decline, with only 49,517 animals marketed, down from 122,103 in the same quarter last year. Live exports, typically the largest contributor, dropped by 74.5%, while export-approved abattoirs saw throughput fall by 37.6%. Slaughtering at domestic abattoirs also fell sharply, down 68.8%.
Exports of hides and skins during the quarter amounted to 193,443 kg, mainly consisting of bovine wet blue and processed hides exported to South Africa and Zimbabwe. Meanwhile, Namibia imported 239,078 kg of hides and skins. “Hides and Skins imports on the other hand totalled 239,078 kg during the quarter under review,” the report stated.
The sheep sector was similarly affected by shortages of market-ready animals, with live sheep exports falling 42.3%. Slaughter activity at export-approved abattoirs declined by 27.2%, while local abattoirs contracted by 42.8%.
Mutton exports dropped by 65.8%, with only 84,681 kg exported to South Africa, Botswana and Norway. “Mutton exports during the period under review dropped due to significant reductions in throughput at export-approved abattoirs,” the Board stated.
Nonetheless, the sector saw strong price increases. The A2 lamb producer carcass price averaged N$96.38/kg, a rise of N$25.75/kg compared to N$70.63/kg a year earlier. The s-VCF auction lamb price rose by 29.5% to N$39.66/kg.
Goat marketing also declined, with 33,116 goats sold in Q2 2025 – a 10.5% decrease from 36,988 goats in the same quarter of 2024. The drop was attributed to a lack of marketable animals. The lamb auction price averaged N$40.11/kg during the period.
Pork marketing provided some relief, with modest growth recorded. A total of 13,143 pigs were marketed at LLPBN-approved abattoirs, up from 12,444 in Q2 2024. Imports, however, dropped significantly to 1,512,843 kg, representing a 34.3% year-on-year decrease. Spain was the largest source (64.3%), followed by South Africa (17.9%) and Botswana (3.8%), with smaller volumes from Belgium, France, Denmark, China, the UK and other countries.
“Although imports are dominant in the market, the Pork Market Share Promotion Scheme, administered by the LLPBN, continues to assist local producers in maintaining significant market share,” the report stated.
In the poultry sector, a total of 9,307,872 chickens were slaughtered for domestic consumption year-to-date. During the second quarter, 12,500 layer birds were imported for breeding purposes. Processed chicken exports reached 2,614,060 kg, with South Africa, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Zambia and the Democratic Republic of Congo as key markets.
Meanwhile, poultry imports totalled 4,715,248 kg during the quarter. “Of these imports, 51.8 percent originated from Poland, 25.6 percent came from Brazil, 15.5 percent came from South Africa and the remaining 7.4 percent jointly from Argentina, Spain, New Zealand, Ireland, Switzerland, Thailand, Ukraine and Swaziland,” the LLPBN reported.
