The Meat Corporation of Namibia (Meatco) expects to generate about N$365 million in export earnings from the Norwegian market this year after securing an additional beef export quota through a government-to-government agreement between Namibia and Botswana.
The additional allocation follows Meatco’s full utilisation of its initial 2026 Norwegian beef quota by the end of June, around five months earlier than last year, when the allocation was only exhausted in November.
According to Meatco, the initial quota is expected to generate about N$265 million in export earnings. Namibia has since secured an additional 344,766 kilograms of Norwegian beef quota under the Southern African Customs Union-European Free Trade Association (SACU-EFTA) quota-sharing framework, which is projected to generate a further N$100 million.
The combined value of Meatco’s Norwegian beef exports for 2026 is therefore expected to reach approximately N$365 million.
The company said the achievement reflects stronger commercial performance, growing international demand for premium Namibian beef and efforts to maximise returns from high-value export markets despite weaker market conditions in the European Union and South Africa.
Under Namibia’s Cabinet-approved quota management framework, Meatco receives 75% of the country’s annual Norwegian beef quota, while Beefcor receives the remaining 25%.
Following the early exhaustion of Meatco’s allocation, the governments of Namibia and Botswana reached an agreement allowing Namibia to utilise part of Botswana’s unused Norwegian quota.
Botswana made 459,688 kilograms of its remaining quota available, with 344,766 kilograms allocated to Meatco in line with Namibia’s quota-sharing formula.
Meatco Interim Chief Executive Officer Ambassador Albertus Aochamub said fully utilising the quota by June demonstrates the continued demand for premium Namibian beef in international markets.
“Fully utilising our Norwegian quota by June is a significant milestone for Namibia’s beef industry and demonstrates the continued confidence that international customers place in premium Namibian beef. It also reflects Meatco’s stronger commercial execution and our focus on maximising value from premium export markets,” he said.
Aochamub welcomed the agreement between Namibia and Botswana, saying it would allow the country to derive additional value from one of its most lucrative export markets.
He said Meatco aims to fully utilise the additional allocation before 31 December 2026 and thanked the governments of Namibia and Botswana, the Ministry of International Relations and Trade, and the Botswana Meat Commission for facilitating the arrangement.
Norway remains one of Namibia’s highest-value beef export destinations, with the market recognising the country’s high standards in animal health, traceability, food safety and sustainable livestock production.
Meatco said it will continue expanding access to premium international markets to improve returns for livestock producers, strengthen Namibia’s export competitiveness and support economic growth.
