Sharp drop in sheep marketing

Sheep marketing declined sharply in the first quarter of 2025, largely due to a shortage of market-ready animals, according to the Livestock and Livestock Products Board (LLPB).


Slaughter activity at export-approved abattoirs dropped by 53.9%, while local abattoirs saw a 21.6% decline. Live exports also fell by 44.2%. Mutton exports fell by 63.3% during the review period due to significant declines in throughput at export-approved abattoirs. “As a result, only 82 707 kg of lamb and mutton were exported to South Africa, Botswana, and Norway, lower than the 2024 exports of 225 411 kg,” the LLPB said. The LLPB reported a 15.1% decline in goat marketing during the first quarter of 2025, with 20 758 goats marketed compared to 24 442 during the same period in 2024. The LLPB attributed the decline to reduced availability of marketable animals across all marketing channels.


Stable - Moreover, a total of 12 324 pigs were processed at LLPB-approved abattoirs during the first quarter of 2025, compared to 12 255 in the same period last year. The LLPB noted a sharp rise in demand for pork imports during the first quarter of 2025, with volumes exceeding 1.9 million kg, up 74.1% from the same period in 2024. Spain accounted for the largest share of imports at 30.4%, followed by China with 17.8% and South Africa with 17.3%. The remaining imports came from Botswana, the Netherlands, the UK, France and Portugal. Despite the dominance of imports, the LLPB said its Pork Market Share Promotion Scheme continues to support local producers in retaining a significant share of the market.


So far this year, more than 4.4 million chickens have been slaughtered for domestic consumption in Namibia, while local production of table eggs reached 23.6 million. The LLPB reported that 135 597 day-old chicks and 1 799 layers were imported for breeding purposes. In terms of trade, Namibia exported 3.04 million kg of processed chicken products to South Africa, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Zambia and the DRC. During the same period, poultry imports totalled 6.6 million kg, with 64.2% originating from Poland, 18.8% from Brazil, 12.4% from South Africa, and the remaining 4.7% from Argentina, Spain, Ireland, Switzerland, Thailand, Ukraine and Eswatini.