Poultry meat and offal market in Libya

Earlier Report Observations

In 2018, the Libyan poultry meat market reached 357.3 K t, heavily reliant on imports to meet domestic demand due to constraints in local production, exacerbated by financing challenges and fluctuations in feed prices. By 2019, market volume contracted to 316.9 K t, primarily driven by rising costs of imported feed and an unfavorable exchange rate that made meat imports more expensive and reduced their volumes.

The COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 disrupted global supply chains, but the Libyan market recovered to 354.8 K t, partly through increased imports to compensate for shortfalls in local output. This trend continued into 2021, when the market grew to 385.2 K t amid active expansion of live and frozen meat imports to satisfy rising domestic demand.

In 2022, a religious verdict leading to a boycott of imported meat caused a decline in imports and market volume to 361.1 K t, despite some growth in local production. By 2023, the market stabilized at 361.8 K t, while pressure from high global feed prices and a volatile exchange rate persisted. Government initiatives to secure supplies through consumer complexes and the activity of local companies such as Libya Meat for Food Industries became part of the market landscape.

Production poultry meat and offal in Libya

In kind, 2017-2020, K t

Top producers of poultry meat and offal, 2017-2020

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

Libya's poultry meat and offal production has grown for the third year in a row. In 2020, the country produced 259.5 thousand tonnes, marking a modest 4.4% increase from the previous year. Looking at the period from 2017 to 2020, production rose by 8%, with an average annual growth rate of 2.6%.

Annual dynamics of production in Libya in kind, 2017-2020, K t

Exports poultry meat and offal from Libya

According to market reports, Libya did not export any poultry meat and offal between 2017 and 2020.

Imports poultry meat and offal to Libya

Imports in kind, K t

The market showed significant volatility during these years. Import volumes reached their lowest point in 2017 and peaked in 2018, with a 1.9-fold difference between these two years. In 2020, Libya imported 95.3 thousand tonnes of poultry meat and offal, representing a sharp 39.5% increase compared to 2019. The highest volume was recorded in 2018 at 109.2 thousand tonnes. The largest decline occurred in 2019, with a drop of 37.4%, while the biggest increase was in 2018, at 91.7%.

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

From 2017 to 2020, Brazil and Turkey were the dominant suppliers of poultry meat and offal to Libya, together accounting for 81.8% of total imports by volume. Other countries held much smaller shares.

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

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

Imports in value, M $ US

The data shows irregular changes, reflecting a volatile market environment. Import values hit their lowest point in 2017 and reached a peak in 2018, with a 1.9-fold swing between these years. In 2020, Libya's imports of poultry meat and offal totaled 119.9 million US dollars, up 14.8% from 2019. The highest value was recorded in 2018 at 158.6 million US dollars. The largest decline was in 2019, with a 34.1% drop, while the biggest increase occurred in 2018, at 88.2%.

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

Between 2017 and 2020, Brazil and Turkey continued to be the main suppliers of poultry meat and offal to Libya in value terms, jointly making up 85.1% of total imports. Other countries accounted for the remainder.

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

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