Poultry meat and offal market in Zimbabwe

Earlier Report Observations

From 2018 to 2019, the poultry meat and offal market in Zimbabwe grew sharply from 164.5 thousand tonnes to 230.4 thousand tonnes, a 40% increase. This surge was driven by a 32% rise in day-old chick production to 90.8 million birds, the highest level since 2014, fueled by growing demand for affordable protein, urbanization, and higher disposable incomes. The sector's expansion was further supported by a significant increase in poultry feed production from 372 thousand tonnes to 645 thousand tonnes, reflecting changing dietary preferences and population demand.

The market stabilized around 224.8 thousand tonnes in 2020 despite challenges from the transition to US dollar pricing, as the COVID-19 pandemic spurred additional demand when many households turned to poultry farming to supplement their incomes. Growth resumed in the following years, with the market reaching 242.7 thousand tonnes in 2022, supported by adaptation to the dollarized economy and government initiatives like the Presidential Rural Poultry and Goat Pass-On program, which distributed chicks to rural families to boost self-sufficiency and rural development.

In 2023, the market volume contracted to 218.5 thousand tonnes, though the sector remained the leading consumer of stock feeds, indicating underlying demand. By 2024, total feed production reached 896 thousand tonnes with poultry as the primary growth driver, and a detailed meat market system analysis program, supported by the Zimbabwe Agricultural Growth Programme and the European Union, aimed to enhance competitiveness and market access within the poultry value chain.

Production poultry meat and offal in Zimbabwe

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

In 2019, Zimbabwe's poultry meat and offal production reached its peak at 229.1 thousand tons. However, in 2020, output declined slightly by 2.4% to 223.5 thousand tons. Looking at the broader period from 2017 to 2020, production grew by 21.1%, which translates to an average annual increase of 6.6%. The lowest production level was recorded in 2018 at 160.8 thousand tons, marking a significant drop of 12.9% from the previous year. In contrast, 2019 saw the largest surge, with production jumping by 42.5%.

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

Exports poultry meat and offal from Zimbabwe

According to industry analysis, Zimbabwe did not export any poultry meat and offal between 2017 and 2020.

Imports poultry meat and offal to Zimbabwe

Imports in kind, t

Zimbabwe's imports of poultry meat and offal have been declining for three years in a row. In 2020, imports totaled 1 288 tons, down 5.1% from 2019. Over the four-year span from 2017 to 2020, imports fell sharply by 78.1%, averaging an annual decrease of 39.7%.

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

From 2017 to 2020, South Africa and Namibia were the main sources for Zimbabwe's poultry meat and offal imports, together making up 85.6% of the total volume. The rest came from various smaller markets.

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

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

Imports in value, K $ US

The import market showed considerable volatility during this period. In 2019, imports hit their lowest point at 703 thousand US dollars, a steep 74.9% drop from the previous year. By 2020, imports rebounded to 1 033 thousand US dollars, a 46.9% increase year-over-year. The peak occurred in 2017, with imports 6.6 times higher than the 2019 low.

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

Between 2017 and 2020, South Africa and Namibia dominated Zimbabwe's poultry meat and offal imports in value terms, accounting for 85.7% of the total. Other countries contributed only minor shares.

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

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