Sheep and goat meat market in Yemen, 2026

Earlier Report Observations

The market for sheep and goat meat in Yemen expanded from 232 thousand tons in 2018 to 305 thousand tons in 2023, driven by responsive local production to meet demand. In 2020, the Ministry of Agriculture issued temporary measures to allow imports of fresh meat to address supply needs, signaling strong demand that supported domestic output growth. Subsequent regulatory changes in 2022, which banned imports of frozen red meat and permitted only fresh and chilled products, further incentivized local producers to increase supply.

Production experienced a slight contraction in 2021, falling by 2 thousand tons, as drought conditions and population displacement reduced livestock herds. However, the market rebounded in 2022 with a 5% increase in volume, reaching over 304 thousand tons, and stabilized near 305 thousand tons in 2023. Throughout the period, the ongoing conflict and currency depreciation contributed to rising meat prices, but local production managed to grow overall to meet consumption needs.

Production sheep and goat meat in Yemen

In kind, 2017-2020, K t

Globally, Yemen ranked as the 26th largest producer of sheep and goat meat between 2017 and 2020.

Top producers of sheep and goat meat, 2017-2020

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

Yemen's sheep and goat meat production grew for the second year in a row. In 2020, the country produced 291.6 K t, marking a solid 11.1% increase from the previous year. Over the 2017-2020 period, production rose by 24.6%, with an average annual growth rate of 7.6%. The lowest production level was in 2018 at 232.1 K t. The sharpest decline occurred in 2018 at 0.9%, while the largest gain was in 2019 at 13.1%.

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

Exports sheep and goat meat from Yemen

Exports in kind, t

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

From 2017 to 2020, Yemen's exports in kind were almost entirely directed to the United Arab Emirates, which represented 100.0% of total shipments.

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

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

Exports in value, K $ US

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

During 2017-2020, Yemen's sheep and goat meat exports in value terms were overwhelmingly concentrated in the United Arab Emirates, accounting for 100.0% of the total.

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

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

Imports sheep and goat meat to Yemen

Imports in kind, t

The market exhibited significant volatility during these years. Imports swung dramatically, with a 160-fold difference between the peak in 2019 and the low in 2018. In 2020, Yemen imported 53.9 t of sheep and goat meat, an 80.5% drop from the prior year. The minimum import volume was 1.7 t in 2018, while the maximum reached 275.8 t in 2019. The steepest decline was 97.2% in 2018, and the largest increase was 15 863.4% in 2019.

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

Between 2017 and 2020, Brazil (37.2% of imports in kind), Saudi Arabia (24.2%), and Argentina (19.7%) were the key suppliers for Yemen's sheep and goat meat imports, together making up 81.1% of total flows.

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

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

Imports in value, K $ US

The market displayed notable volatility over this period. The value of imports varied widely, with a 28-fold swing from the high in 2019 to the low in 2018. In 2020, Yemen imported sheep and goat meat worth {value_last_year} K $ US, a 70.9% decrease from the previous year. The lowest value was 8.6 K $ US in 2018, and the highest was 240.0 K $ US in 2019. The most significant drop was 86.1% in 2018, while the largest surge was 2 704.7% in 2019.

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

From 2017 to 2020, Brazil (40.1% of imports in value terms), Saudi Arabia (22.1%), and Argentina (12.3%) were the primary contributors to Yemen's sheep and goat meat imports by value, collectively representing 74.6% of total flows.

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

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