Chicken meat and offal market in Mauritania

Earlier Report Observations

From 2018 to 2020, the chicken meat and offal market in Mauritania was characterized by low domestic production covering only 25% of national needs, leading to heavy reliance on imports. Three specialized animal feed manufacturers provided a foundation for the sector, with expandable compound feed capacity up to 96 000 t per year. Local egg production, started two years earlier, met 40% of demand. During this period, market volume grew from 30 360 t to 39 231 t as imports rose steadily from 25 565 t to 34 379 t, while domestic production increased modestly.

A significant boost to local productivity occurred in 2021 through the EU-funded West Africa Competitiveness Support Program, which cut chick mortality from 10% to 2% and raised average chicken weight from 1 kg to 1.6 kg. This improvement supported a gradual rise in domestic output. At the same time, estimated consumption of white meat reached about 10 000 t per year and was growing due to increased imports of frozen products. Imports surged to 42 475 t in 2021 and further to 46 765 t in 2022, driving market volume to 51 657 t.

By 2023, consumer associations denounced rising chicken prices, prompting the government to impose a 10% price reduction on essential goods including poultry. Producers counted on major sporting events like the Africa Cup of Nations to stimulate demand. The poultry sector continues to develop with the goal of self-sufficiency, but local production remains insufficient. Imports of frozen chicken have grown due to their profitability for importers, while consumption is bolstered by shifting preferences away from more expensive red meat toward chicken as a more affordable alternative.

Production chicken meat and offal in Mauritania

In kind, 2017-2020, t

Top producers of chicken meat and offal, 2017-2020

World map of production of chicken meat and offal, 2017-2020

Mauritania's chicken meat and offal production has grown for the third year in a row. In 2020, the country produced 4 852 tonnes, marking a 0.7% year-on-year increase.

Annual dynamics of production in Mauritania in kind, 2017-2020, t

Exports chicken meat and offal from Mauritania

Market data shows that Mauritania did not export any chicken meat and offal between 2017 and 2020.

Imports chicken meat and offal to Mauritania

Imports in kind, t

Mauritania's imports of chicken meat and offal have risen for the third consecutive year. In 2020, the country imported 34 379 tonnes, a significant 11.0% jump from the previous year. Over the 2017–2020 period, imports grew by 46.5%, averaging an annual increase of 13.6%.

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

From 2017 to 2020, the United States, the Netherlands, and Brazil were the top suppliers of chicken meat and offal to Mauritania by volume. The United States accounted for 42.4% of imports, the Netherlands for 21.0%, and Brazil for 17.0%, together making up 80.4% of total imports.

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

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

Imports in value, K $ US

After two years of growth, Mauritania's import value for chicken meat and offal dropped in 2020. The import value that year was 23 102 thousand US dollars, down 7.0% year-on-year. However, over the 2017–2020 span, imports increased by 24.5%, with an average annual rise of 7.6%. The peak value occurred in 2019 at 24 842 thousand US dollars, which also saw the largest annual increase of 22.1%.

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

Between 2017 and 2020, the United States, the Netherlands, and Brazil led as the main suppliers of chicken meat and offal to Mauritania by value. The United States held a 40.9% share of imports, the Netherlands 23.0%, and Brazil 16.9%, collectively representing 80.8% of total import value.

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

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