By: Nghiinomenwa-vali Hangala
For the year ended November 2025, Namibia has exported beef to the USA once, five times to China, once to Ghana, and nothing to the DRC, according to monthly statistics compiled by the Livestock and Livestock Products Board of Namibia (LLPB).
The four markets are some of the newly-discovered markets. However, Namibia is struggling to supply these markets for reasons not detailed.
The same observation was made by the Board, noting that no volumes were exported to the Rest of the World (ROW) (including Asian markets), reflecting the absence of shipments to ROW destinations seen earlier in the year.
According to LLPB, Namibia’s export market remained heavily Europe-led.
For November 2025, the EU absorbed 1,199,390 kg (81.4%), Greece received 103,092 kg (7.0%), and Lesotho 99,993 kg (6.9%).
The Board also revealed that this concentration of exports is not due to a lack of demand from the rest of the world, but rather Namibia’s inability to supply, noting that it is “driven almost entirely by reduced slaughter supply rather than demand conditions”
In terms of the African market for November 2025, exports amounted to 100,106 kg, driven by Lesotho, which accounted for 99,993 kg (99.9%). South Africa and Botswana shared the other 0.1%.
Year-to-date, beef exports stood at 12,4 million kilograms by the end of November 2025, compared to 21,9 million kilograms over the same period last year, marking a 43.5% decline.
The Board’s analysis also highlighted that cattle marketing remained subdued by the end of November 2025.
Year-to-date (YTD) (January–November), total cattle marketing stood at 189,243 head, down 47.1% compared to 371,982 head marketed over the same period in 2024.
“This sharp contraction is broadly consistent with patterns observed in previous months, due to the tight supply of animals,” stated LLPB.
Cattle slaughter volumes also remained below last year’s levels.
In November 2025, total slaughtering fell from 13,412 head in November 2024 to 11,262 head, a 20.7% year-over-year (y/y) decline.
While on a month-over-month (m/m), slaughter volumes reduced by 12.2% from 12,823 head in October.
YTD total slaughter stood at 133,742 head in 2025, down by 28.0% compared to 184,843 head slaughtered over the same period in 2024.
