Beef and buffalo meat market in Sri Lanka

Earlier Report Observations

The Sri Lankan beef and buffalo meat market entered a phase of gradual decline after 2019, moving away from earlier stability near 30 000 t. A pronounced contraction of nearly 6% occurred in 2021, marking the most significant annual decrease in the period.

This reduction in total market volume was mirrored by a sustained downturn in domestic production, which fell from approximately 29 800 t in 2018 to 27 300 t in 2023. International trade played a diminishing role, as both imports and exports fell to minimal levels after 2018.

Following the adjustment, the market stabilized at a lower volume base. Between 2022 and 2023, market size hovered around 27 300 to 27 600 t, indicating a consolidation phase after the earlier decline.

Production beef and buffalo meat in Sri Lanka

In kind, 2017-2020, t

Top producers of beef and buffalo meat, 2017-2020

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

In 2019, Sri Lanka produced 29,860 tonnes of beef and buffalo meat, marking the highest output on record. By 2020, production had decreased slightly to 29,550 tonnes, representing a 1.0% decline from the previous year. The largest year-over-year increase occurred in 2019, at 0.2%.

Annual dynamics of production in Sri Lanka in kind, 2017-2020, t

Exports beef and buffalo meat from Sri Lanka

Exports in kind, t

The market exhibited volatility during the observed period. Exports reached their lowest point in 2020 at 28.6 tonnes, while the peak occurred in 2018 at 722.6 tonnes, resulting in a 25-fold difference between these years. In 2020, exports of beef and buffalo meat from Sri Lanka fell sharply by 53.0% compared to 2019. The largest decline was recorded in 2019 at 91.6%, and the largest increase was in 2018 at 1,077.7%.

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

From 2017 to 2020, Sri Lanka's exports of beef and buffalo meat were primarily directed towards Oman and the Maldives, which together accounted for 99.6% of total export volumes.

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

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

Exports in value, K $ US

Market performance showed noticeable fluctuations over the period. Export values dropped to their minimum in 2020 at 197,000 US dollars, after peaking in 2018 at 1,170,000 US dollars, with a 5.9-fold difference between these years. In 2020, beef and buffalo meat exports from Sri Lanka contracted by 53.1% compared to 2019. The largest decline was in 2019 at 64.1%, and the largest increase was in 2018 at 144.0%.

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

Between 2017 and 2020, the Maldives and Oman were the main buyers of beef and buffalo meat from Sri Lanka in value terms, jointly representing 99.1% of total export value, with the remainder distributed among other countries.

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

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

Imports beef and buffalo meat to Sri Lanka

Imports in kind, t

Market behavior was characterized by volatility during these years. Imports fell to their lowest level in 2020 at 77.7 tonnes, following a peak in 2018 at 785.7 tonnes, showing a 10.1-fold difference. In 2020, beef and buffalo meat imports into Sri Lanka decreased significantly by 33.5% from the previous year. The largest decline was in 2019 at 85.1%, and the largest increase was in 2018 at 434.6%.

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

From 2017 to 2020, the United Arab Emirates and Australia were the primary suppliers of beef and buffalo meat to Sri Lanka, together making up 80.1% of total import volumes, with other countries accounting for the rest.

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

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

Imports in value, K $ US

The market displayed signs of volatility over the observed period. Import values bottomed out in 2020 at 340,000 US dollars, after reaching their highest point in 2018 at 2,702,000 US dollars, with a 7.9-fold difference. In 2020, imported beef and buffalo meat volumes in Sri Lanka declined by 44.4% relative to the prior year. The largest decline was recorded in 2019 at 77.4%, and the largest increase was in 2018 at 193.9%.

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

Over the period from 2017 to 2020, Australia (51.2% of import value), the United Arab Emirates (17.7% of import value), and Singapore (11.7% of import value) consistently held leading positions in Sri Lanka's import structure, collectively accounting for 80.5% of total import flows in value terms.

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

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