Pork market in Congo

Earlier Report Observations

From 2018 to 2020, the pork market in Congo expanded from 20,443 t to 26,629 t, driven primarily by rising imports. This growth occurred alongside a lack of specific national regulations governing pig slaughter hygiene, which kept domestic production small, and under an agricultural development plan for the Kouilou region that anticipated demand would be met mainly through imports. While a formal ban on pork from the European Union was enacted in neighboring Democratic Republic of the Congo in 2019, reinforcing regional sanitary controls, imports into Congo continued to rise. The global spread of African swine fever in Asia during 2020 created a sustained shortage in China, boosting worldwide demand for pork exports from regions like the EU and supporting increased import volumes into Congo.

Market growth accelerated further between 2021 and 2023, with the total market volume reaching 35,950 t by 2023 as imports peaked at 34,698 t. During this period, domestic production gradually declined. In 2021, new local pig farming initiatives were launched in Dolisie with partnerships sought to increase fresh meat production, representing an effort to bolster the domestic supply chain even as import dependency grew.

In 2024, pork imports fell to 25,091 t. This shift coincided with the development of local pig breeding programs that provided technical, veterinary, and financial support to rural households, alongside commercial importers actively seeking new international suppliers such as Brazil. The Congolese market continued to operate under the regional CEMAC food safety regulation, which sets sanitary standards for animal-origin products.

Production pork in Congo

In kind, 2017-2020, t

Top producers of pork, 2017-2020

World map of production of pork, 2017-2020

In 2020, Congo produced 1 443 tons of pork, marking a slight decline of 3.0% compared to 2019. Over the 2017-2020 period, production decreased by 4.9%, with a compound annual growth rate of 1.7%. The lowest production level was recorded in 2018 at 1 352 tons. That same year saw the largest decline of 10.9%, while 2019 experienced the most significant increase at 10.0%.

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

Exports pork from Congo

Exports in kind, t

The export market demonstrated considerable volatility during the observed period. Exports fluctuated dramatically, with a 50-fold difference between the peak in 2019 and the low point in 2018. In 2020, Congo's pork exports totaled 3 tons, representing a substantial decrease of 15.6% from the previous year. The highest export volume was recorded in 2019 at 4 tons, which also saw the most dramatic increase of 4,900.0%.

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

From 2017 to 2020, Democratic Republic of the Congo and Spain dominated pork exports in kind, together accounting for 99.5% of total export flows.

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

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

Exports in value, K $ US

Market performance exhibited notable fluctuations throughout the period. Export values reached their peak in 2019 before dropping to their lowest point in 2018, representing a 9.3-fold variation. In 2020, Congo's pork exports amounted to 3 thousand US dollars, reflecting a sharp decline of 72.7% compared to the previous year. The maximum value was achieved in 2019 at 9 thousand US dollars, which also recorded the largest increase of 832.9%.

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

During 2017-2020, Democratic Republic of the Congo dominated pork exports in value terms, capturing 92.2% of total flows, while the remaining share was distributed among various smaller markets.

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

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

Imports pork to Congo

Imports in kind, t

Congo's pork imports continued to grow for the second consecutive year. In 2020, the country imported 25 190 tons of pork, representing a 10.9% increase compared to the previous year. Over the 2017-2020 period, imports rose by 19.2%, with a compound annual growth rate of 6.0%. The lowest import volume was recorded in 2018 at 19 091 tons, which also saw the largest decline of 9.7%. The most significant increase occurred in 2019 at 18.9%.

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

Between 2017 and 2020, Belgium (25.9% of imports in kind), Germany (20.4%), and France (11.2%) were the leading suppliers of pork to Congo, collectively accounting for 57.5% of total import flows.

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

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

Imports in value, K $ US

Congo's pork imports in value terms grew for the second year in a row. In 2020, the country imported pork worth 29 629 thousand US dollars, representing a substantial 30.3% increase from 2019. Over the 2017-2020 period, import values increased by 2.1%, with a compound annual growth rate of 0.7%. The lowest value was recorded in 2018 at 22 081 thousand US dollars, which also experienced the largest decline of 23.9%.

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

From 2017 to 2020, Belgium (26.0% of imports in value terms), Germany (19.1%), and France (14.3%) remained the top suppliers of pork to Congo, together accounting for 59.4% of total import value.

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

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