Market research

Sheep and goat meat market in Bhutan

Release date: Mar 27, 2026

Submission: 15 minutes after payment

Research period: 2017-2025

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Earlier Report Observations

From 2018 to 2023, the market for sheep and goat meat in Bhutan showed significant variation. The total market volume began at 629 metric tons in 2018, declined to 592 metric tons in 2019, and stabilized around 595 metric tons in 2020. A severe contraction followed in 2021, pulling the market down to 368 metric tons. A recovery then unfolded over the next two years, with the market reaching 386 metric tons in 2022 and 509 metric tons in 2023.

The market has been formally tracked within Bhutan's trade statistics since 2018, with specific classification for sheep and goat meat aiding oversight. Domestic supply is fundamentally linked to the livestock population, which the 2023 Integrated Agriculture and Livestock Census placed at roughly 70,000 sheep and goats. Consumer demand exhibits strong seasonal patterns, rising notably during traditional festivals such as Losar and Dashain, which periodically increases consumption.

After 2020, imports diminished to negligible levels, making domestic production the primary driver of market volume. The rebound in output, from 368 metric tons in 2021 to 506 metric tons in 2023, was the key factor behind the market's recovery during this period.

Table of content

1. Disclaimer
2. Terms of use of the report
3. Product codes in the statistical classifications used in the report
4. Key Market Indicators and Trends
1. 4.1. Key Market Indicators
  1. 4.1.1. In kind
    1. 4.1.1.1. Production, 2018-2023
    2. 4.1.1.2. Imports, 2018-2025
    3. 4.1.1.3. Exports, 2018-2025
    4. 4.1.1.4. Market size, 2018-2023
2. 4.2. Market Trends and Factors
5. Production
1. 5.1. Production in Bhutan
  1. 5.1.1. Annual dynamics of production in Bhutan in kind, 2018-2023, t
  2. 5.1.2. Annual dynamics of production in Bhutan in value, 2018-2023, $ US
2. 5.2. Global production by Country, 2018-2023
  1. 5.2.1. Annual dynamics of production by macroregions in kind, 2018-2023, t
  2. 5.2.2. Dynamics of production structure by macroregions in kind, 2018-2023
  3. 5.2.3. Annual dynamics of production by country in kind, 2018-2023, t
  4. 5.2.4. Structure of production by countries in kind, 2018-2023
  5. 5.2.5. Dynamics of peoduction structure by countries in kind, 2018-2023
6. Imports
1. 6.1. Imports (Direct Data*)
  1. 6.1.1. Imports - Total information
  2. 6.1.2. Imports in kind, kg
    1. 6.1.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Bhutan in kind, 2018-2025, kg
    2. 6.1.2.2. Dynamics of product's imports in kind to Bhutan by countries, 2018-2025, kg
    3. 6.1.2.3. Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2018-2025
  3. 6.1.3. Imports in value, K $ US
    1. 6.1.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Bhutan in value, 2018-2025, K $ US
    2. 6.1.3.2. Dynamics of product's imports in value to Bhutan by countries, 2018-2025, K $ US
    3. 6.1.3.3. Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2018-2025
  4. 6.1.4. Average price of product's imports, $ US/kg
    1. 6.1.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's imports to Bhutan, 2018-2025, $ US/kg
    2. 6.1.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's imports to Bhutan by countries, 2018-2025, $ US/kg
2. 6.2. Imports (Mirror Data)
  1. 6.2.1. Imports - Total information
  2. 6.2.2. Imports in kind, kg
    1. 6.2.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Bhutan in kind, 2018-2025, kg
    2. 6.2.2.2. Dynamics of product's imports in kind to Bhutan by countries, 2018-2025, kg
    3. 6.2.2.3. Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2018-2025
  3. 6.2.3. Imports in value, K $ US
    1. 6.2.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Bhutan in value, 2018-2025, K $ US
    2. 6.2.3.2. Dynamics of product's imports in value to Bhutan by countries, 2018-2025, K $ US
    3. 6.2.3.3. Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2018-2025
  4. 6.2.4. Average price of product's imports, $ US/kg
    1. 6.2.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's imports to Bhutan, 2018-2025, $ US/kg
    2. 6.2.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's imports to Bhutan by countries, 2018-2025, $ US/kg
7. Trade balance
1. 7.1. Trade balance (Direct Data)
  1. 7.1.1. In kind, kg
  2. 7.1.2. In value, K $ US
2. 7.2. Trade balance (Mirror Data)
  1. 7.2.1. In kind, kg
  2. 7.2.2. In value, K $ US
8. Top buying and selling countries, 2018-2025
1. 8.1. Direct Data
  1. 8.1.1. Import in Value by Countries-buyers
  2. 8.1.2. Export in Value by Countries-suppliers
2. 8.2. Mirror Data
  1. 8.2.1. Import in Value by Countries-buyers
  2. 8.2.2. Export in Value by Countries-suppliers

Production sheep and goat meat in Bhutan

In kind, 2018-2021, t

Top producers of sheep and goat meat, 2018-2021

Source: SHEV.io

World map of production of sheep and goat meat, 2018-2021

Source: SHEV.io

In 2021, Bhutan produced 368.2 tons of sheep and goat meat, marking a sharp year-over-year decline of 37.8%. From 2018 to 2021, production fell by 38.4%, which translates to an average annual decrease of 14.9%. The only notable increase during this period occurred in 2020, when production rose by 5.3%.

Annual dynamics of production in Bhutan in kind, 2018-2021, t

Parameter		2019	2020	2021	CAGR
1	Change from last year	(6.0%)	5.3%	(37.8%)	(14.9%)

Source: SHEV.io

Exports sheep and goat meat from Bhutan

Market reports indicate that Bhutan did not export any sheep and goat meat between 2018 and 2021.

Imports sheep and goat meat to Bhutan

Imports in kind, kg

Sheep and goat meat imports into Bhutan declined for the second year in a row. In 2020, imports totaled 2 472 kg, representing a dramatic 91.7% drop from 2019. Over the 2018-2020 period, imports decreased by 92%, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of -56.9%.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Bhutan in kind, 2018-2021, kg

Parameter		2019	2020	2021	CAGR
1	Change from last year	(3.6%)	(91.7%)	n/a	-

Source: SHEV.io

From 2018 to 2021, India was the primary supplier of sheep and goat meat to Bhutan, accounting for 93.9% of total imports by volume. Other trading partners held relatively small shares.

Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2018-2021

Source: SHEV.io

World map of product's imports to Bhutan in kind, 2018-2021

Source: SHEV.io

Imports in value, K $ US

Imports of sheep and goat meat into Bhutan, measured in value terms, fell for the second consecutive year. In 2020, imports amounted to 18.4 thousand US dollars, reflecting a steep 89.9% reduction compared to the previous year. Between 2018 and 2020, imports declined by 90.8%, equivalent to an average annual rate of -54.9%.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Bhutan in value, 2018-2021, K $ US

Parameter		2019	2020	2021	CAGR
1	Change from last year	(9.1%)	(89.9%)	n/a	-

Source: SHEV.io

During the 2018-2021 period, India accounted for 75.8% of the total import value of sheep and goat meat to Bhutan. The remaining share was distributed among a variety of smaller trading partners.

Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2018-2021

Source: SHEV.io

World map of product's imports to Bhutan in value, 2018-2021

Source: SHEV.io