Beef and buffalo meat market in Afghanistan

Earlier Report Observations

The beef and buffalo meat market in Afghanistan experienced significant fluctuations between 2018 and 2023. Market volume grew from 96 thousand tons in 2018 to a peak of 106 thousand tons in 2020, largely driven by a sharp rise in imports to 8.6 thousand tons that year. However, a steady contraction followed after 2020, and by 2023 the market had fallen to 66.8 thousand tons, 37% below the peak level.

Domestic beef production also declined, dropping from 96 thousand tons in 2018 to 66.7 thousand tons in 2023. This shift occurred against the backdrop of overall development in Afghanistan's livestock sector, which saw growth in poultry farming with over 9,000 farms and active expansion in dairy farming, including farms with improved cattle breeds. Government initiatives, such as agricultural exhibitions in Kabul and Dubai, emphasized investment and standardization for the broader agricultural sector.

Production beef and buffalo meat in Afghanistan

In kind, 2017-2020, K t

Top producers of beef and buffalo meat, 2017-2020

World map of production of beef and buffalo meat, 2017-2020

Afghanistan's beef and buffalo meat production increased after a two-year decline. In 2020, the country produced 97.3 thousand tons, marking a moderate 9.3% increase compared to the previous year. Over the 2017-2020 period, production fell by 16%, with an average annual decline of 5.6%. The lowest production level was recorded in 2019 at 89.0 thousand tons, while the largest year-on-year drop occurred in 2018 at 17.0%.

Annual dynamics of production in Afghanistan in kind, 2017-2020, K t

Exports beef and buffalo meat from Afghanistan

Exports in kind, t

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Afghanistan in kind, 2017-2020, t

From 2017 to 2020, two countries—Maldives and the United Arab Emirates—accounted for the majority of Afghanistan's exports in kind, together representing 100.0% of total export flows.

Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's exports from Afghanistan in kind, 2017-2020

Exports in value, K $ US

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Afghanistan in value, 2017-2020, K $ US

Between 2017 and 2020, Maldives and the United Arab Emirates dominated Afghanistan's exports in value terms, jointly accounting for 100.0% of total export flows.

Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's exports from Afghanistan in value, 2017-2020

Imports beef and buffalo meat to Afghanistan

Imports in kind, t

In 2020, Afghanistan imported 8 560 tons of beef and buffalo meat, a dramatic increase of 1 199.2% from 2019.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Afghanistan in kind, 2017-2020, t

From 2017 to 2020, Pakistan was the dominant source for Afghanistan's imports in kind, accounting for 77.3% of total import flows, while the remaining share was distributed among various smaller suppliers.

Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's imports to Afghanistan in kind, 2017-2020

Imports in value, K $ US

In 2020, Afghanistan's beef and buffalo meat imports reached 25 728 thousand US dollars, representing a sharp increase of 2 541.3% from 2019.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Afghanistan in value, 2017-2020, K $ US

Between 2017 and 2020, Pakistan accounted for 89.0% of Afghanistan's total beef and buffalo meat imports in value terms, with the remainder spread across a wide range of smaller suppliers.

Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's imports to Afghanistan in value, 2017-2020