Namibia registers growth in mutton & lamb export

Information coming from Namibia is that since its reopening in the second half of 2022, the Farmers’ Meat Market export abattoir in Mariental, Namibia, has processed payment of R10,9 m, excluding VAT, to 46 sheep producers in that country.

The Namibia Agricultural Union (NAU), the price averaged R91,60/kg for lambs weighing an average of 17,9kg.

Farmer’s Weekly reports that the Farmers’ Meat Market is currently the only abattoir in the country actively exporting lamb.

Roelie Venter, CEO of the NAU, said the export of lamb to Norway, Europe, and China had created enormous opportunities for Namibia’s mutton and lamb producers.

“This high-value opportunity adds exceptional impetus to the country’s red meat production industry, and sustainability and profitability to sheep production in particular,” he told Farmer’s Weekly.

From the reopening until the end of January, the sheep breeds slaughtered had comprised 68% Dorper, 32% Meatmaster, and 15% fat-tailed sheep.

Venter said it was hoped that the opening of exports to China later this year would help to create a gap in the market, which would benefit producers even more.

He added that the export abattoir currently employed 82 people and the intention was to expand this to 100 in 2023. This year would also see the delivery of 400t of bone-out meat to Norway, as well as bone-out exports to Bermuda and the EU.

“The China bone-in market will hopefully open by the end of 2023. Middle East bone-in markets such as Saudi Arabia, UAE, and Qatar will kick off by the end of 2023 or the beginning of 2024. The Meat Market is also investigating Singapore as a possible market,” Venter said.

Furthermore, the NAU, said the plans for 2023 included the exportation of 50 000 carcasses, including a quota of 40 000 lambs for Norway.

Plans were also on the table to export 170 000 lambs in 2024 and 280 000 in 2025.