Market research

Beef and buffalo meat market in Sierra Leone

Release date: Mar 30, 2026

Submission: 15 minutes after payment

Research period: 2017-2025

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File format: docx, xlsx

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Earlier Report Observations

The beef and buffalo meat market in Sierra Leone expanded from approximately 10 000 t in 2018 to over 15 000 t in 2023. Domestic production grew steadily through 2022, supported by government policies that encouraged local agriculture and aimed to reduce dependence on food imports. This focus on enhancing self-sufficiency contributed to the overall rise in market volume over the period.

Market growth continued in 2023 despite a 12% drop in domestic production, as imports surged to over 4 000 t. This shift coincided with the government increasing the agricultural budget and launching the 'Feed Salone' initiative to transform the food system, which may support long-term production capacity. Concurrently, high inflation and currency depreciation affected consumer purchasing power and likely influenced the increased reliance on imported meat to meet demand.

In 2024, authorities further implemented agricultural support measures, including a $75 million agri-processing project. Global supply chain disruptions from the war in Ukraine continued to impact input costs and prices. Import volumes rose sharply to 7 106 t, indicating sustained demand within the sector.

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 Sierra Leone
  1. 5.1.1. Annual dynamics of production in Sierra Leone in kind, 2018-2023, t
  2. 5.1.2. Annual dynamics of production in Sierra Leone 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 Sierra Leone in kind, 2018-2024, t
    2. 6.1.2.2. Dynamics of product's imports in kind to Sierra Leone 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 Sierra Leone in value, 2018-2024, K $ US
    2. 6.1.3.2. Dynamics of product's imports in value to Sierra Leone 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/kg
    1. 6.1.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's imports to Sierra Leone, 2018-2024, $ US/kg
    2. 6.1.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's imports to Sierra Leone by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/kg
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 Sierra Leone in kind, 2018-2024, t
    2. 6.2.2.2. Dynamics of product's imports in kind to Sierra Leone 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 Sierra Leone in value, 2018-2024, K $ US
    2. 6.2.3.2. Dynamics of product's imports in value to Sierra Leone 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/kg
    1. 6.2.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's imports to Sierra Leone, 2018-2024, $ US/kg
    2. 6.2.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's imports to Sierra Leone by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/kg
7. Exports
1. 7.1. Exports (Direct Data*)
  1. 7.1.1. Exports - Total information
  2. 7.1.2. Exports in kind, t
    1. 7.1.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Sierra Leone in kind, 2018-2024, t
    2. 7.1.2.2. Dynamics of product's exports in kind from Sierra Leone by countries, 2018-2024, t
    3. 7.1.2.3. Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 7.1.3. Exports in value, K $ US
    1. 7.1.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Sierra Leone in value, 2018-2024, K $ US
    2. 7.1.3.2. Dynamics of product's exports in value from Sierra Leone by countries, 2018-2024, K $ US
    3. 7.1.3.3. Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  4. 7.1.4. Average price of product's exports, $ US/kg
    1. 7.1.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's exports from Sierra Leone, 2018-2024, $ US/kg
    2. 7.1.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's exports from Sierra Leone by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/kg
2. 7.2. Exports (Mirror Data)
  1. 7.2.1. Exports - Total information
  2. 7.2.2. Exports in kind, t
    1. 7.2.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Sierra Leone in kind, 2018-2024, t
    2. 7.2.2.2. Dynamics of product's exports in kind from Sierra Leone by countries, 2018-2024, t
    3. 7.2.2.3. Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 7.2.3. Exports in value, K $ US
    1. 7.2.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Sierra Leone in value, 2018-2024, K $ US
    2. 7.2.3.2. Dynamics of product's exports in value from Sierra Leone by countries, 2018-2024, K $ US
    3. 7.2.3.3. Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  4. 7.2.4. Average price of product's exports, $ US/kg
    1. 7.2.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's exports from Sierra Leone, 2018-2024, $ US/kg
    2. 7.2.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's exports from Sierra Leone by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/kg
8. Trade balance
1. 8.1. Trade balance (Direct Data)
  1. 8.1.1. In kind, t
  2. 8.1.2. In value, K $ US
2. 8.2. Trade balance (Mirror Data)
  1. 8.2.1. In kind, t
  2. 8.2.2. In value, K $ US
9. Top buying and selling countries, 2018-2024
1. 9.1. Direct Data
  1. 9.1.1. Import in Value by Countries-buyers
  2. 9.1.2. Export in Value by Countries-suppliers
2. 9.2. Mirror Data
  1. 9.2.1. Import in Value by Countries-buyers
  2. 9.2.2. Export in Value by Countries-suppliers

Production beef and buffalo meat in Sierra Leone

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

Sierra Leone's beef and buffalo meat production grew for two consecutive years before declining. In 2019, production reached its peak at 10,184 tonnes, but then fell by 1.4% to 10,042 tonnes in 2020. Over the four-year period from 2017 to 2020, overall production increased by 6.9%, representing an average annual growth rate of 2.2%. The most significant year-on-year increase occurred in 2019, when production rose by 4.3%.

Annual dynamics of production in Sierra Leone in kind, 2017-2020, t

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	4.0%	4.3%	(1.4%)	2.2%

Source: SHEV.io

Exports beef and buffalo meat from Sierra Leone

Exports in kind, t

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Sierra Leone 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, Sierra Leone's beef and buffalo meat export market was highly concentrated, with France accounting for 94.7% of all exports by volume.

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

Source: SHEV.io

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

Source: SHEV.io

Exports in value, K $ US

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Sierra Leone 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

During the 2017-2020 period, France was the overwhelmingly dominant market for Sierra Leone's beef and buffalo meat exports, receiving 97.7% of the total export value.

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

Source: SHEV.io

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

Source: SHEV.io

Imports beef and buffalo meat to Sierra Leone

Imports in kind, t

The import market for beef and buffalo meat in Sierra Leone showed considerable volatility between 2017 and 2020. Imports reached their lowest point in 2018 at 229.1 tonnes, then surged to a peak of 900.1 tonnes in 2019 - a 3.9-fold increase from the previous year's low. However, imports then fell sharply by 53.3% in 2020 to 420.6 tonnes. The most dramatic year-on-year increase occurred in 2019, when imports grew by 292.9%.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	(6.0%)	292.9%	(53.3%)	19.9%

Source: SHEV.io

From 2017 to 2020, the Netherlands, India, and Saudi Arabia were the leading sources of beef and buffalo meat imports to Sierra Leone by volume. The Netherlands accounted for 39.8% of imports, India for 24.0%, and Saudi Arabia for 11.6%. Together, these three countries represented 75.5% of Sierra Leone's total beef and buffalo meat imports during this period.

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

Source: SHEV.io

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

Source: SHEV.io

Imports in value, K $ US

Sierra Leone's beef and buffalo meat import market experienced significant volatility in value terms between 2017 and 2020. Imports reached their lowest point in 2018 at $157,000, then skyrocketed to $2,270,000 in 2019 - representing a 14.5-fold increase from the previous year's low. However, imports then plummeted by 67.2% in 2020 to $746,000. The most dramatic year-on-year increase occurred in 2019, when import values surged by 1,348.7%.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	(25.7%)	1 348.7%	(67.2%)	52.3%

Source: SHEV.io

From 2017 to 2020, the Netherlands, Saudi Arabia, and India continued to be the primary suppliers of beef and buffalo meat to Sierra Leone in value terms. The Netherlands accounted for 45.7% of import value, Saudi Arabia for 21.2%, and India for 18.9%. Collectively, these three countries represented 85.8% of Sierra Leone's total beef and buffalo meat import value during this four-year period.

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

Source: SHEV.io

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

Source: SHEV.io