Namibia’s pork producers are facing renewed cost pressures as feed prices rise while pork prices continue to weaken, despite an increase in pig slaughtering during the first eight months of 2026.
According to the Livestock and Livestock Products Board of Namibia’s (LLPB) September Beef and Pork Market Watch report, sunflower meal prices increased by 6.38% month-on-month to N$10,303.30 per tonne in August, while soybean prices rose 7.66% to N$8,113.75 per tonne.
The increases marked the second consecutive month of rising feed ingredient prices and coincided with firmer prices for key feed commodities in South Africa, a major source market for Namibia.
“Given Namibia’s exposure to South African feed input markets, sustained increases in these inputs could place renewed upward pressure on domestic pork production costs and, subsequently, the cost component incorporated in the pork ceiling-price model,” the LLPB said.
The higher input costs come as pork prices remain under pressure. The calculated pork ceiling price declined by 2.31% month-on-month and 18.66% year-on-year to N$38.01 per kilogram in August.
South Africa’s Red Meat Abattoir Association pork price also declined, falling 3.05% from July and 19.14% year-on-year to N$27.96/kg.
The Board-approved pork ceiling price remained unchanged at N$47.61/kg in August after being reduced by 8.65% from N$52.12/kg at the start of the third quarter.
Despite the price pressures, domestic pig slaughtering remained above last year’s levels.
A total of 37,157 pigs were slaughtered between January and August 2026, representing a 9.26% increase from 34,009 during the same period in 2025.
In August, slaughtering declined by 6.98% month-on-month to 4,440 pigs from 4,773 in July. However, the figure was 3.84% higher than the 4,276 pigs slaughtered in August 2025.
