Sheep and goat meat market in Botswana

Earlier Report Observations

From 2018 to 2023, the market volume for sheep and goat meat in Botswana contracted from over 12 300 tons to around 10 300 tons. This decline was influenced by changing consumer preferences, which reduced demand for goat meat by approximately 5.9% in 2021, and by the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, which disrupted production and trade dynamics.

The market has been shaped by the state-owned Botswana Meat Commission, a dominant player with export monopoly. A significant regulatory change began affecting the sector from 2022 with the Botswana Meat Industry Regulatory Authority Act, which established a new authority to control grading, marketing, sales, and impose levies, altering the operational landscape for producers and traders.

Production sheep and goat meat in Botswana

In kind, 2017-2020, t

Top producers of sheep and goat meat, 2017-2020

World map of production of sheep and goat meat, 2017-2020

Botswana's sheep and goat meat production has declined for the third year in a row. In 2020, the country produced 11 222 tons of sheep and goat meat, marking a slight decrease of 1.1% compared to the previous year. Looking at the period from 2017 to 2020, production fell by 9.5%, which translates to an average annual decline of 3.3%.

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

Exports sheep and goat meat from Botswana

Exports in kind, t

Botswana's sheep and goat meat exports have dropped for the third consecutive year. In 2020, the country shipped just 0.1 tons of sheep and goat meat abroad, representing a sharp decline of 89.3% year-over-year. Over the 2017-2020 period, exports plummeted by 99.9%, with a compound annual growth rate of -90.4%.

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

From 2017 to 2020, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and South Africa were the dominant players in Botswana's sheep and goat meat exports by volume, together accounting for 95.5% of total shipments. The remaining share was distributed among various other countries.

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

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

Exports in value, K $ US

Botswana's sheep and goat meat exports in value terms have fallen for the third year running. In 2020, exports totaled 1.6 thousand US dollars, reflecting a significant drop of 83.4% compared to the previous year. Between 2017 and 2020, export value declined by 99.4%, equivalent to an average annual decrease of 82.3%.

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

During the 2017-2020 period, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and South Africa dominated Botswana's sheep and goat meat exports by value, together making up 87.4% of total flows. Other destinations contributed smaller individual shares.

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

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

Imports sheep and goat meat to Botswana

Imports in kind, t

The market experienced notable volatility during these years. The highest import volume was recorded in 2017, while the lowest occurred in 2019, resulting in a peak-to-trough ratio of 4.3 times. In 2020, Botswana imported 137.0 tons of sheep and goat meat, a substantial increase of 292.9% year-over-year. The lowest volume was in 2019 at 34.9 tons, with the largest decline that year reaching 67.0%.

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

From 2017 to 2020, South Africa and Namibia were the primary sources for Botswana's sheep and goat meat imports by volume, together accounting for 100.0% of total inflows.

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

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

Imports in value, K $ US

Market behavior showed considerable volatility over these years. The highest import value was observed in 2017, with the lowest in 2019, leading to a peak-to-trough ratio of 4.8 times. In 2020, Botswana imported sheep and goat meat worth 1.6 thousand US dollars, a sharp rise of 84.3% compared to the previous year. The minimum value was recorded in 2019 at 133.9 thousand US dollars, with the largest decline that year at 61.6%.

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

Between 2017 and 2020, the geographical distribution of imports by value was largely shaped by South Africa and Namibia, which together represented 100.0% of total import flows.

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

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