Beef exports and imports drop in January
Live exports increased their market share by 15.5%
Beef exports dropped by 31.5% and beef imports declined by 55.6% in January 2023 compared to the previous year.
Beef exports dropped by 31.5% in January 2023, with a total of 340 354 kg of beef exported to a number of destinations in 2023.
This is compared to 497 178 kg of beef exported during the same period in 2022, according to the Meat Board of Namibia.
"Of the total beef exported in January, 63.3% went to the EU market, 21.5% was exported to the United Kingdom, 6.9% went to China, and the remaining 2.0% was exported to South Africa."
Imports decline
The Meat Board says that likewise, beef imports in January declined by 55.6%.
Beef imports stood at 61 607 kg in January, compared to 138 779 kg imported during the same period in 2022.
Of these imports, 42.6% originated from the USA, 37.6% came from South Africa, 11.4% from Ireland, and 8.5% from the UK. These imports were made up of beef offal products and canned beef.
Meanwhile, cattle marketed in January dropped to 14 645 animals, compared with 16 065 animals marketed during the same period in 2022.
According to the Meat Board of Namibia, this represents a contraction of 8.8%.
"The decline is owed to a low supply of slaughter-ready animals at both export and local abattoirs during the first month of the year."
Live exports
It said that live exports increased their market share by 15.5% during January to 67.2% from 51.7% in 2022.
"Export-approved abattoirs lost market share during the period under review, taking up 26.7% of animals marketed in January, compared to the 29.9% market share it absorbed during the same period in 2022."
Meanwhile, cattle exports reported a positive growth of 18.6% during January.
A total of 9 840 animals were exported on the hoof during January, compared to the 8 300 animals exported during the same period in 2022.
"All animals exported during January went to South Africa," says the Meat Board.
Over the years, South Africa has been the biggest destination for Namibian cattle, predominantly weaners.
Pork
According to the Meat Board, the piggery sector is still tackling the ongoing shortage of pork supply in the market due to the ongoing ban of pork imports from South Africa.
A total of 892 080 kg of pork was imported during January 2023, a growth of 66.0% compared to the 537 411 kg volume of pork imported during January 2022.
"Namibia remains a net importer of pork due to limited production, and as such, local production is often supplemented with imported pork to meet local demand."
Furthermore, a total of 3 782 pigs were marketed at the Meat Board abattoirs in January, which is 4.9% more than the 3 606 pigs marketed in January last year.
The Meat Board says that the Pork Market Share Promotion Scheme continues to be implemented to assist local producers with market access given cheap pork imports from elsewhere.
Sheep market
According to the Meat Board, sheep marketing stood at 20 727 in January, compared to 19 839 in 2022.
"Year-on-year, this is a growth of 4.2%, which was primarily driven by improved marketing activities observed at export-approved abattoirs and live exports that recorded growths of 230.8% and 21.9%, respectively."
It said that in terms of market share, export-approved abattoirs took up 77% of the market during January.
Marketing within the goat sector slowed down during January and recorded a decline of 17.9% relative to January last year.
This is compared to 497 178 kg of beef exported during the same period in 2022, according to the Meat Board of Namibia.
"Of the total beef exported in January, 63.3% went to the EU market, 21.5% was exported to the United Kingdom, 6.9% went to China, and the remaining 2.0% was exported to South Africa."
Imports decline
The Meat Board says that likewise, beef imports in January declined by 55.6%.
Beef imports stood at 61 607 kg in January, compared to 138 779 kg imported during the same period in 2022.
Of these imports, 42.6% originated from the USA, 37.6% came from South Africa, 11.4% from Ireland, and 8.5% from the UK. These imports were made up of beef offal products and canned beef.
Meanwhile, cattle marketed in January dropped to 14 645 animals, compared with 16 065 animals marketed during the same period in 2022.
According to the Meat Board of Namibia, this represents a contraction of 8.8%.
"The decline is owed to a low supply of slaughter-ready animals at both export and local abattoirs during the first month of the year."
Live exports
It said that live exports increased their market share by 15.5% during January to 67.2% from 51.7% in 2022.
"Export-approved abattoirs lost market share during the period under review, taking up 26.7% of animals marketed in January, compared to the 29.9% market share it absorbed during the same period in 2022."
Meanwhile, cattle exports reported a positive growth of 18.6% during January.
A total of 9 840 animals were exported on the hoof during January, compared to the 8 300 animals exported during the same period in 2022.
"All animals exported during January went to South Africa," says the Meat Board.
Over the years, South Africa has been the biggest destination for Namibian cattle, predominantly weaners.
Pork
According to the Meat Board, the piggery sector is still tackling the ongoing shortage of pork supply in the market due to the ongoing ban of pork imports from South Africa.
A total of 892 080 kg of pork was imported during January 2023, a growth of 66.0% compared to the 537 411 kg volume of pork imported during January 2022.
"Namibia remains a net importer of pork due to limited production, and as such, local production is often supplemented with imported pork to meet local demand."
Furthermore, a total of 3 782 pigs were marketed at the Meat Board abattoirs in January, which is 4.9% more than the 3 606 pigs marketed in January last year.
The Meat Board says that the Pork Market Share Promotion Scheme continues to be implemented to assist local producers with market access given cheap pork imports from elsewhere.
Sheep market
According to the Meat Board, sheep marketing stood at 20 727 in January, compared to 19 839 in 2022.
"Year-on-year, this is a growth of 4.2%, which was primarily driven by improved marketing activities observed at export-approved abattoirs and live exports that recorded growths of 230.8% and 21.9%, respectively."
It said that in terms of market share, export-approved abattoirs took up 77% of the market during January.
Marketing within the goat sector slowed down during January and recorded a decline of 17.9% relative to January last year.
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