Livestock sector powers ahead
Namibia's livestock industry recorded strong growth during the first five months of 2026, with cattle and sheep marketing increasing sharply and beef exports to premium international markets continuing to strengthen.
The latest livestock statistics released by the Livestock and Livestock Products Board (LLPB) show that 102 777 cattle were marketed between January and May, up 26.5% on the same period last year.
Export-approved abattoirs remained the main marketing channel, accounting for 51.1% of all cattle marketed. Live exports made up 30.7%, while B and C-class abattoirs accounted for the remaining 18.2%.
In May alone, 18 732 cattle were marketed, a marginal 1% increase over the 18 541 recorded in May 2025.
Live cattle exports rose by 34.8% to 5 280 head, while throughput at export-approved abattoirs increased by 11.6% to 11 256 head.
Domestic abattoirs, however, recorded a 51.6% decline in throughput to 2 196 head, highlighting the sector's growing reliance on export markets while local processing remains under pressure.
The stronger export performance was reflected in beef shipments, which rose by 48.6% to 1.8 million kilograms in May, compared with 1.21 million kilograms a year earlier. The LLPB attributed the increase largely to Namibia's continued access to premium European Union markets.
Hide and processed leather exports also increased, rising by 72.5% year-on-year to 157,308kg during the month.
Sheep
The sheep industry also posted strong gains.
Sheep marketing increased by 27.2% in May to 75 780 head, while year-to-date marketing rose by 38.2% to 353 944 head.
Live sheep exports expanded by 50.8%, with South Africa remaining the main destination. Slaughter at export-approved abattoirs increased by 44.5%, although throughput at domestic abattoirs fell by 15.9%.
Lamb and mutton exports also strengthened, increasing by 35.4% year-to-date to 251 177kg. South Africa remained Namibia's largest export market, accounting for more than half of total exports, while Norway, the United Kingdom and the Netherlands continued to provide valuable premium markets.
Goats
The goat sector presented a more mixed picture.
Total goat marketing declined marginally by 0.8% year-to-date to 42 626 head.
Registered goat abattoirs processed just 224 animals during the period, down 72% from 800 a year earlier. Live exports continued to dominate the sector, with more than 42 400 goats exported, mainly to South Africa, Angola, Botswana, Tanzania, Zimbabwe, Zambia and Kenya.
Pork
The pig industry recorded modest growth.
Pig marketing increased by 1.2% in May to 4,672 head, while year-to-date volumes rose by 8.8% to 23,119 head.
Pork imports declined by 4.5% compared with the same period in 2025, suggesting improved domestic supply. Germany remained Namibia's largest supplier of pork, followed by Denmark, the Netherlands, South Africa and Spain.
Overall, the latest figures suggest Namibia's livestock industry remains resilient, underpinned by strong export demand for beef and sheep products. However, declining throughput at domestic abattoirs continues to point to challenges facing the country's local meat-processing sector.
