Market research

Sheep and goat meat market in Malawi

Release date: Mar 27, 2026

Submission: 15 minutes after payment

Research period: 2017-2025

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Earlier Report Observations

Production of sheep and goat meat in Malawi stood at 106.5 thousand tons in 2018, following a period of earlier growth that peaked that year. The market then stabilized in 2019 at 104.1 thousand tons, as the sector continued to face persistent challenges in refrigerated transport and storage infrastructure, which limited product quality and safety. The COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 disrupted supply chains but also reinforced consumer preference for locally sourced fresh meat, helping to push production up to 110.8 thousand tons.

Growth accelerated from 2021 onward, with output reaching 122.5 thousand tons in 2021, 145.0 thousand tons in 2022, and 150.4 thousand tons in 2023. No major regulatory changes or new large-scale production facilities were reported during these years. However, the market continued to operate under the existing Meat and Meat Products Act, which sets minimum standards for meat quality, while informal markets remained dominant due to infrastructure constraints and strong cultural preferences for freshly slaughtered meat.

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, 2018-2024
    3. 4.1.1.3. Exports, 2018-2024
    4. 4.1.1.4. Market size, 2018-2023
2. 4.2. Market Trends and Factors
5. Production
1. 5.1. Production in Malawi
  1. 5.1.1. Annual dynamics of production in Malawi in kind, 2018-2023, t
  2. 5.1.2. Annual dynamics of production in Malawi 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 Malawi in kind, 2018-2024, kg
    2. 6.1.2.2. Dynamics of product's imports in kind to Malawi by countries, 2018-2024, kg
    3. 6.1.2.3. Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 6.1.3. Imports in value, $ US
    1. 6.1.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Malawi in value, 2018-2024, $ US
    2. 6.1.3.2. Dynamics of product's imports in value to Malawi by countries, 2018-2024, $ US
    3. 6.1.3.3. Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  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 Malawi, 2018-2024, $ US/kg
    2. 6.1.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's imports to Malawi by countries, 2018-2024, $ 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 Malawi in kind, 2018-2024, kg
    2. 6.2.2.2. Dynamics of product's imports in kind to Malawi by countries, 2018-2024, kg
    3. 6.2.2.3. Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 6.2.3. Imports in value, $ US
    1. 6.2.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Malawi in value, 2018-2024, $ US
    2. 6.2.3.2. Dynamics of product's imports in value to Malawi by countries, 2018-2024, $ US
    3. 6.2.3.3. Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  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 Malawi, 2018-2024, $ US/kg
    2. 6.2.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's imports to Malawi by countries, 2018-2024, $ 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, $ US
2. 7.2. Trade balance (Mirror Data)
  1. 7.2.1. In kind, kg
  2. 7.2.2. In value, $ US
8. Top buying and selling countries, 2018-2024
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 Malawi

In kind, 2017-2020, t

Top producers of sheep and goat meat, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

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

Source: SHEV.io

In 2020, Malawi produced 110 835 tons of sheep and goat meat, marking a 6.4% year-over-year increase. From 2017 to 2020, production grew by 14.5%, with an average annual growth rate of 4.6%. The most significant production drop occurred in 2019 at 2.2%, while the highest growth was seen in 2018 with a 10.0% rise.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	10.0%	(2.2%)	6.4%	4.6%

Source: SHEV.io

Exports sheep and goat meat from Malawi

Market analysis indicates that Malawi did not export any sheep and goat meat between 2017 and 2020.

Imports sheep and goat meat to Malawi

Imports in kind, kg

Sheep and goat meat imports into Malawi fell for the third year in a row. In 2020, imports amounted to 97 kg, an 88.8% decrease from the previous year. Over the 2017-2020 period, imports dropped by 97.9%, translating to an annualized decline of 72.6%.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Malawi in kind, 2017-2020, kg

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	(52.2%)	(61.4%)	(88.8%)	(72.6%)

Source: SHEV.io

From 2017 to 2020, Malawi's import sources for sheep and goat meat were extremely concentrated, with South Africa supplying 100.0% of all imports by volume.

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

Source: SHEV.io

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

Source: SHEV.io

Imports in value, $ US

Cross-border shipments of sheep and goat meat to Malawi declined for the third consecutive year. In 2020, imports totaled 1 327 US dollars, representing a 62.2% reduction compared to the prior year. Between 2017 and 2020, imports fell by 95.9%, averaging an annual decrease of 65.6%.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	(48.6%)	(79.1%)	(62.2%)	(65.6%)

Source: SHEV.io

During 2017-2020, South Africa continued to be the overwhelmingly dominant supplier of sheep and goat meat to Malawi, accounting for 100.0% of total import value.

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

Source: SHEV.io

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

Source: SHEV.io