Market research

Beef and buffalo meat market in Democratic Republic of the Congo

Release date: Mar 30, 2026

Submission: 15 minutes after payment

Research period: 2017-2025

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Earlier Report Observations

The market volume for beef and buffalo meat in the Democratic Republic of the Congo demonstrated steady growth, rising from 18 162 t in 2018 to 27 623 t in 2023. This expansion was underpinned by a consistent increase in domestic production, which climbed from 17 127 t to 25 511 t over the same period, while imports varied between 1 036 t and 2 734 t.

Regional security challenges periodically affected supply, notably in 2020 when militia activity in North Kivu's farming areas led to local cattle shortages and higher meat prices. Despite these constraints, national production continued to grow. The market further adapted in 2022 as rising global food prices increased the cost of imported meat, encouraging greater domestic output to meet stable demand.

By 2024, beef imports had risen sharply to 4 584 t. Ongoing insecurity in eastern pastoral zones continued to complicate cattle movement, while currency depreciation and multiple taxes elevated costs for imported meat. These conditions coexisted with a surge in competitively priced, subsidized chicken imports from Europe, introducing new dynamics to the local protein market.

Table of content

1. Disclaimer
2. Terms of use of the report
3. Product codes in the statistical classifications used in the report
4. Key Market Indicators and Trends
1. 4.1. Key Market Indicators
  1. 4.1.1. In kind
    1. 4.1.1.1. Production, 2018-2023
    2. 4.1.1.2. Imports, 2018-2024
    3. 4.1.1.3. Exports, 2018-2024
    4. 4.1.1.4. Market size, 2018-2023
2. 4.2. Market Trends and Factors
5. Production
1. 5.1. Production in Democratic Republic of the Congo
  1. 5.1.1. Annual dynamics of production in Democratic Republic of the Congo in kind, 2018-2023, t
  2. 5.1.2. Annual dynamics of production in Democratic Republic of the Congo in value, 2018-2023, $ US
2. 5.2. Global production by Country, 2018-2023
  1. 5.2.1. Annual dynamics of production by macroregions in kind, 2018-2023, t
  2. 5.2.2. Dynamics of production structure by macroregions in kind, 2018-2023
  3. 5.2.3. Annual dynamics of production by country in kind, 2018-2023, t
  4. 5.2.4. Structure of production by countries in kind, 2018-2023
  5. 5.2.5. Dynamics of peoduction structure by countries in kind, 2018-2023
6. Imports
1. 6.1. Imports (Direct Data*)
  1. 6.1.1. Imports - Total information
  2. 6.1.2. Imports in kind, t
    1. 6.1.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Democratic Republic of the Congo in kind, 2018-2024, t
    2. 6.1.2.2. Dynamics of product's imports in kind to Democratic Republic of the Congo by countries, 2018-2024, t
    3. 6.1.2.3. Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 6.1.3. Imports in value, K $ US
    1. 6.1.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Democratic Republic of the Congo in value, 2018-2024, K $ US
    2. 6.1.3.2. Dynamics of product's imports in value to Democratic Republic of the Congo by countries, 2018-2024, K $ US
    3. 6.1.3.3. Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  4. 6.1.4. Average price of product's imports, $ US/t
    1. 6.1.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's imports to Democratic Republic of the Congo, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 6.1.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's imports to Democratic Republic of the Congo by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/t
2. 6.2. Imports (Mirror Data)
  1. 6.2.1. Imports - Total information
  2. 6.2.2. Imports in kind, t
    1. 6.2.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Democratic Republic of the Congo in kind, 2018-2024, t
    2. 6.2.2.2. Dynamics of product's imports in kind to Democratic Republic of the Congo by countries, 2018-2024, t
    3. 6.2.2.3. Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 6.2.3. Imports in value, K $ US
    1. 6.2.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Democratic Republic of the Congo in value, 2018-2024, K $ US
    2. 6.2.3.2. Dynamics of product's imports in value to Democratic Republic of the Congo by countries, 2018-2024, K $ US
    3. 6.2.3.3. Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  4. 6.2.4. Average price of product's imports, $ US/t
    1. 6.2.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's imports to Democratic Republic of the Congo, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 6.2.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's imports to Democratic Republic of the Congo by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/t
7. Trade balance
1. 7.1. Trade balance (Direct Data)
  1. 7.1.1. In kind, t
  2. 7.1.2. In value, K $ US
2. 7.2. Trade balance (Mirror Data)
  1. 7.2.1. In kind, t
  2. 7.2.2. In value, K $ US
8. Top buying and selling countries, 2018-2024
1. 8.1. Direct Data
  1. 8.1.1. Import in Value by Countries-buyers
  2. 8.1.2. Export in Value by Countries-suppliers
2. 8.2. Mirror Data
  1. 8.2.1. Import in Value by Countries-buyers
  2. 8.2.2. Export in Value by Countries-suppliers

Production beef and buffalo meat in Democratic Republic of the Congo

In kind, 2017-2020, t

Top producers of beef and buffalo meat, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

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

Source: SHEV.io

Beef and buffalo meat production in the Democratic Republic of the Congo has grown for the third year in a row. In 2020, the country produced 19 042 tonnes, marking a 10.9% increase from the previous year. Looking at the period from 2017 to 2020, production rose by 11.6%, with an average annual growth rate of 3.7%.

Annual dynamics of production in Democratic Republic of the Congo in kind, 2017-2020, t

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	0.4%	0.3%	10.9%	3.7%

Source: SHEV.io

Exports beef and buffalo meat from Democratic Republic of the Congo

Exports in kind, t

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Democratic Republic of the Congo in kind, 2017-2020, t

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	n/a	n/a	n/a	-

Source: SHEV.io

From 2017 to 2020, France was the overwhelmingly dominant buyer of beef and buffalo meat from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, accounting for 100.0% of total exports in volume.

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

Source: SHEV.io

World map of product's exports from Democratic Republic of the Congo in kind, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

Exports in value, K $ US

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Democratic Republic of the Congo in value, 2017-2020, K $ US

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	n/a	n/a	n/a	-

Source: SHEV.io

Between 2017 and 2020, virtually all exports of beef and buffalo meat from the Democratic Republic of the Congo in value terms were linked to France, which held a 100.0% share of total trade flows.

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

Source: SHEV.io

World map of product's exports from Democratic Republic of the Congo in value, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

Imports beef and buffalo meat to Democratic Republic of the Congo

Imports in kind, t

In 2020, the Democratic Republic of the Congo imported 1 110 tonnes of beef and buffalo meat, a 36.2% decrease compared to 2019. Over the 2017-2020 period, imports fell by 34.2%, with an average annual decline of 13.0%. The lowest volume was recorded in 2018 at 1 036 tonnes, while the peak occurred in 2019 with 1 740 tonnes. The sharpest drop was in 2018 at 38.7%, and the largest increase was in 2019 at 68.1%.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Democratic Republic of the Congo in kind, 2017-2020, t

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	(38.7%)	68.1%	(36.2%)	(13.0%)

Source: SHEV.io

From 2017 to 2020, India remained the primary source for beef and buffalo meat imports to the Democratic Republic of the Congo, making up 71.6% of total imports in volume, while other origins played a much smaller role.

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

Source: SHEV.io

World map of product's imports to Democratic Republic of the Congo in kind, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

Imports in value, K $ US

In 2020, the Democratic Republic of the Congo imported beef and buffalo meat worth value_last_year thousand US dollars, a 40.9% drop from 2019. Over the 2017-2020 period, imports decreased by 61%, with an average annual decline of 27.0%. The largest decrease was in 2018 at 51.0%, and the biggest increase was in 2019 at 34.6%.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Democratic Republic of the Congo in value, 2017-2020, K $ US

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	(51.0%)	34.6%	(40.9%)	(27.0%)

Source: SHEV.io

Between 2017 and 2020, India (59.5% of imports in value), South Africa (13.3%), and Italy (12.4%) were the leading sources in the import structure, together accounting for 85.2% of total trade flows.

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

Source: SHEV.io

World map of product's imports to Democratic Republic of the Congo in value, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io