Beef and buffalo meat market in Antigua and Barbuda

Earlier Report Observations

The beef and buffalo meat market in Antigua and Barbuda, heavily reliant on imports, saw its volume decline from 854 t in 2018 to 640 t in 2020, before rebounding to 763 t in 2021 and stabilizing around 762 t in 2022.

From 2022, the market's stability and subsequent growth to 789 t in 2023 aligned with a looser global supply environment. Increased world cattle and buffalo herds, alongside higher beef exports from South America after Argentina eased trade restrictions, expanded available import volumes. In 2023, abundant shipments from Australia, Argentina, and India, combined with slowing Chinese demand, further supported meat availability for importing countries like Antigua and Barbuda.

While global factors such as rising input costs and animal disease outbreaks posed challenges, the overall expansion in world production and record export levels from key suppliers helped sustain the country's market volume through the period.

Production beef and buffalo meat in Antigua and Barbuda

In kind, 2017-2020, kg

Top producers of beef and buffalo meat, 2017-2020

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

After two years of decline, beef and buffalo meat production in Antigua and Barbuda increased in 2020. The country produced 66 400 kg that year, marking a significant 11.2% rise from 2019. However, looking at the broader period from 2017 to 2020, overall production fell by 22.1%, which translates to an average annual decrease of 8.0%. The lowest production level was recorded in 2019 at 59 700 kg, with the steepest year-on-year drop of 21.7% occurring that same year.

Annual dynamics of production in Antigua and Barbuda in kind, 2017-2020, kg

Exports beef and buffalo meat from Antigua and Barbuda

Exports in kind, t

Beef and buffalo meat exports from Antigua and Barbuda grew for the second year in a row in 2020. Exports reached 0.0 tonnes, up 19.9% compared to 2019. Over the three-year span from 2018 to 2020, exports increased by 50%, with a compound annual growth rate of 14.5%.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Antigua and Barbuda in kind, 2017-2020, t

From 2017 to 2020, beef and buffalo meat exports from Antigua and Barbuda were entirely concentrated on Montserrat, which accounted for 100.0% of total export volumes.

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

World map of product's exports from Antigua and Barbuda in kind, 2017-2020

Exports in value, K $ US

The export market for beef and buffalo meat from Antigua and Barbuda showed an unstable trend during this period. Exports hit a low in 2018 and peaked in 2019, with a 9.4-fold difference between these years. In 2020, exports amounted to 0.3 thousand US dollars, representing a sharp 58.5% decline from the previous year. The highest value was recorded in 2019 at 1 thousand US dollars, which also saw the largest year-on-year increase of 837.6%.

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

Between 2017 and 2020, the export market in value terms was highly concentrated, with Montserrat responsible for 100.0% of total exports.

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

World map of product's exports from Antigua and Barbuda in value, 2017-2020

Imports beef and buffalo meat to Antigua and Barbuda

Imports in kind, t

Beef and buffalo meat imports into Antigua and Barbuda declined for the second consecutive year in 2020. Imports totaled 573.9 tonnes, a notable 17.3% decrease from 2019. Over the period from 2017 to 2020, imports fell by 21.3%, with a compound annual decline rate of 7.7%. The peak import volume was recorded in 2018 at 778.2 tonnes, which also experienced the largest year-on-year increase of 6.7%.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Antigua and Barbuda in kind, 2017-2020, t

From 2017 to 2020, the United States dominated beef and buffalo meat imports into Antigua and Barbuda in volume terms, accounting for 92.7% of total imports.

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

World map of product's imports to Antigua and Barbuda in kind, 2017-2020

Imports in value, K $ US

After two years of growth, beef and buffalo meat import volumes into Antigua and Barbuda declined in 2020. Imports were valued at 2 699 thousand US dollars, a sharp 30.5% drop year-on-year. Over the 2017-2020 period, imports decreased by 21.4%, with a compound annual decline rate of 7.7%. The highest import value was recorded in 2019 at 3 882 thousand US dollars, while the largest year-on-year increase occurred in 2018 at 8.5%.

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

During 2017-2020, nearly all beef and buffalo meat imports into Antigua and Barbuda in value terms were linked to the United States, which held a 91.0% share of total imports.

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

World map of product's imports to Antigua and Barbuda in value, 2017-2020