Sheep and goat meat market in French Polynesia

Earlier Report Observations

From 2018 to 2024, the sheep and goat meat market in French Polynesia remained heavily reliant on imports, which accounted for over 95% of consumption. Stringent biosecurity measures and veterinary requirements for meat imports, including strict prohibitions based on the health status of exporting countries, consistently shaped import volumes. These regulations aimed to preserve the territory's animal disease-free status, affecting the overall supply of meat.

Market volume fluctuated significantly, dropping from 886.8 t in 2018 to 472.6 t in 2023. The continued protection of local production through import quotas and taxes, along with price controls on certain imported meats such as frozen chicken legs, influenced import levels. In May 2022, a 15% increase in pork prices was implemented to support local breeders facing rising production costs, reflecting broader price regulation efforts.

In 2023, the suspension of imports of French poultry meat due to a highly pathogenic avian influenza outbreak highlighted the active sanitary restrictions that likely constrained meat imports overall. By 2024, reinforced labeling rules for all meats in canteens and restaurants, requiring origin, breeding, slaughter, and freshness details, were introduced to enhance transparency, while import volumes showed some recovery.

Production sheep and goat meat in French Polynesia

In kind, 2017-2020, kg

Top producers of sheep and goat meat, 2017-2020

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

French Polynesia's sheep and goat meat production has declined for the third year in a row. In 2020, the territory produced 144 540 kg of this meat, maintaining a relatively stable level compared to the previous year.

Annual dynamics of production in French Polynesia in kind, 2017-2020, kg

Exports sheep and goat meat from French Polynesia

According to market analysis, French Polynesia did not export any sheep and goat meat between 2017 and 2020.

Imports sheep and goat meat to French Polynesia

Imports in kind, t

French Polynesia's imports of sheep and goat meat fell for the second consecutive year. In 2020, imports totaled 554.0 t, marking a significant 21.1% decrease from the year before. Over the 2017-2020 period, imports dropped by 20.5%, with an average annual decline of 7.4%. The highest import volume was recorded in 2018 at 741.0 t, which also saw the largest year-on-year increase of 6.4%.

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

From 2017 to 2020, New Zealand dominated French Polynesia's sheep and goat meat imports, accounting for 86.6% of the total volume. Other trading partners held much smaller shares during this period.

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

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

Imports in value, K $ US

French Polynesia's spending on sheep and goat meat imports decreased for the second year running. In 2020, import value stood at 4 581 K $ US, reflecting a sharp 17.9% drop from 2019. Between 2017 and 2020, import value fell by 12.9%, equivalent to an average annual decrease of 4.5%. The peak value occurred in 2018 at 5 823 K $ US, which also recorded the largest year-on-year increase of 10.7%.

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

Between 2017 and 2020, New Zealand accounted for the vast majority of French Polynesia's sheep and goat meat import value, with a 90.5% share. The remaining imports came from a variety of other markets, each with minimal individual shares.

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

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