Namibia’s livestock sector recorded a 12.0% month-on-month increase in market activity in April 2025, according to the Namibia Statistics Agency (NSA).
This follows a 9.5% decline in March. However, the sector remains subdued, with a year-on-year contraction of 65.2%.
“A total of 79,970 livestock were marketed in April 2025, a decrease from 86,433 animals marketed in March 2025. This also represents a drop compared to 158,371 animals marketed in the same month of 2024,” noted NSA.
During the period under review, the Cattle Export to Approved Abattoirs and Butchers Index rose by 26.3%, in contrast to a decline of 28.4 % recorded in the previous month.
However, on a yearly basis, the index contracted by 68.8%.
“In April 2025, the Index for Live Cattle Exported on Hoof showed signs of recovery, posting a decline of 0.7 %, compared to 5.4% contraction recorded in March 2025. However, year-on-year the index dropped by 74.8 %,” said NSA
Small Stock Export to Approved Abattoirs and Butchers Index fell by 11.8 % on a monthly basis in April 2025, in contrast to a growth of 307.3% posted in March 2025.
Furthermore, the index declined by 28.5 % on a yearly basis.
“A total of 11,067 small stock were sold to export approved abattoirs and butchers in April 2025. Of these, 11,058 of small stock were sourced from the South of the Veterinary Cordon Fence (SVCF), while only nine were sourced from the North of the Veterinary Cordon Fence (N-VCF),” said the Agency.
In April 2025, the Index for Live Small Stock Export declined by 11.8 %, in contrast to a growth of 87.9% recorded in the preceding month. Furthermore, year-on-year, the index recorded a contraction of 44.8 %.
The Pigs Slaughtered Index slowed down in April 2025, rising by 2.4% month-on-month, compared to 4.2% increase recorded a month earlier. On a yearly basis, the index grew by 1.8%.
“The number of pigs slaughtered locally stood at 4,233 heads in April 2025, higher than 4,132 heads slaughtered in March 2025 and higher than 4,160 heads slaughtered in the corresponding month of 2024,” NSA said.
