Beef and buffalo meat market in Central African Republic

Earlier Report Observations

The beef and buffalo meat market in Central African Republic expanded from 97 thousand tons in 2018 to over 100 thousand tons by 2021. This growth was supported by the inauguration of the state-owned Bouboui 2 livestock market near Bangui in 2018, which aimed to improve beef supply to the capital region. Concurrently, government and donor priorities focused on reviving agropastoral systems, including professional training in rural areas.

After a slight stabilization in 2022, market volume reached 103.1 thousand tons in 2023. The national cattle herd had been increasing slowly, and the state-owned slaughterhouse operator SEGA worked to introduce more efficient bleeding methods to improve production quality. In 2023, a project by the government and the International Fund for Agricultural Development aimed to revive agropastoral production in the savannas, further supporting output.

Throughout the period, the market faced challenges such as cattle theft and transhumance-related violence, which affected supply. However, state efforts to regain control over the livestock market and international support for resilience helped sustain overall production growth.

Production beef and buffalo meat in Central African Republic

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

Beef and buffalo meat production in the Central African Republic grew for the second year in a row. In 2019, production stood at 99.1 thousand tons, rising by 2.5% to reach 100.3 thousand tons in 2020. This marked a modest increase of 1.2% from the previous year. Over the period from 2017 to 2020, production expanded by 3.4%, averaging an annual growth rate of 1.1%. The lowest production level was recorded in 2018 at 96.6 thousand tons, which represented a slight decline of 0.3% from 2017.

Annual dynamics of production in Central African Republic in kind, 2017-2020, K t

Exports beef and buffalo meat from Central African Republic

Market analysis shows that the Central African Republic did not export any beef or buffalo meat between 2017 and 2020.

Imports beef and buffalo meat to Central African Republic

Imports in kind, t

In 2020, the Central African Republic imported 401 tons of beef and buffalo meat, a sharp drop of 29.9% from 2019. Over the four-year span from 2017 to 2020, imports fell by 64.2%, with an average annual decrease of 29.0%. The lowest import volume was in 2018 at 390 tons, following a steep decline of 65.2% from 2017. Imports then rebounded in 2019, surging by 46.7% before the drop in 2020.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Central African Republic in kind, 2017-2020, t

From 2017 to 2020, the main sources for beef and buffalo meat imports to the Central African Republic were Cameroon, India, and Belgium. Cameroon accounted for 49.8% of imports by volume, India for 21.5%, and Belgium for 10.4%. Together, these three countries made up 81.7% of total import flows during this period.

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

World map of product's imports to Central African Republic in kind, 2017-2020

Imports in value, K $ US

In 2020, the value of beef and buffalo meat imports into the Central African Republic was 2 322 thousand US dollars, down 9.2% from 2019. Between 2017 and 2020, import values decreased by 46.2%, averaging an annual decline of 18.7%. The lowest value was recorded in 2018 at 1 753 thousand US dollars, after a significant drop of 59.4% from 2017. This was followed by a recovery in 2019, with a 45.9% increase before the slight dip in 2020.

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

From 2017 to 2020, Cameroon, the Netherlands, and Belgium were the primary sources for beef and buffalo meat imports by value. Cameroon dominated with 65.3% of the import value, followed by the Netherlands at 12.2% and Belgium at 10.6%. Combined, these three countries represented 88.0% of total import flows in monetary terms over these years.

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

World map of product's imports to Central African Republic in value, 2017-2020