Namibia beef exports double

The beef subsector marketed 72,968 cattle from January 2022 to April 2022, a 19% increase from 61,433 marketed in the same period last year.

According to the Meat Board of Namibia, from January to April 2022 beef exports doubled, recording a 149% increase to 2,987,896 kg’s, compared to the 1,199,247 kg’s recorded in 2021.

The top beef export destinations are the EU with 29% of total beef exports, Norway with 25% and South Africa with 24%.

“The uptick in numbers is driven by live cattle exports that have increased to 39,067 for the first 4 months of 2022, 30% more from the 33,901 recorded in 2021.”

According to Agribank in its monthly market watch for May 2022, “Namibia is set to benefit from the strengthened world beef prices, however given the significant increase in input costs farmers profitability in real terms and profit margins are likely to drop.”

Meanwhile, in terms of Small Stock Marketed in May, Sheep marketing stood at 174,349 from January to April 2022, a 33% increase from 131,413 recorded in the same period last year.

Relatively, Goat marketing increased by 25% to 32,271 from 25,788 in 2021.

Agribank states that, “the continuous spike in small stock markets results from live exports to South Africa, where farmers get better value for their stock, in April/May 2022.”

Whilst, Namibian Mutton prices averaged at N$59.18/kg, South African prices averaged N$97.94/kg during the period under review.