Cattle marketing declines by 48% in 2025
Preliminary marketing statistics for 2025 reveal a significant contraction in Namibia’s cattle sector, with total marketing activity falling by 48.3% compared to the previous year. Total cattle marketed decreased from 371 982 head in 2024 to 192 300 head in 2025, according to the Livestock and Livestock Products Board of Namibia (LLPBN).
Live exports and slaughtering
The most substantial contributor to this downturn was the sharp reduction in live exports. Live exports to South Africa dropped by 66.7%, falling from 177 667 head in 2024 to 59 224 head in 2025. While South Africa remains the primary destination for live cattle, other regional markets saw minimal activity, with 661 head exported to Angola and 729 head to Botswana during the same period. Other countries included Zambia (2), Zimbabwe (111), the DRC (644) and Tanzania (20).
Performance across abattoirs
Domestic slaughtering also declined, though less sharply than live exports. Total cattle slaughtered in Namibia decreased by 20.3%, totalling 133 076 head in 2025 compared to 194 315 in 2024.
Activity at A-class export abattoirs varied across the country. Meatco processed 36 437 head in 2025, down from 76 147 in 2024. Beefcor maintained a steady volume of 51 153 head, compared to 51 269 in 2024.
Reho Meat Processors recorded its first full year of cattle slaughtering in 2025, processing 6 146 head, nearly equal to the combined output of the two northern N-VCF abattoirs.
The Rundu abattoir processed 2 989 head of cattle in 2025, a decrease from 4 928 in 2024. Katima Mulilo processed 3 905 head, marking a 24.1% decrease from 5 150 in 2024.
Total slaughtering activity across B- and C-class abattoirs also fell significantly. Facilities south of the Veterinary Cordon Fence (S-VCF) processed 27 981 head, a 46.6% decrease from 52 394 in 2024, while abattoirs north of the fence (N-VCF) processed 4 465 head, a 29.1% decline from 6 297 in 2024.
Marketing volumes fluctuated throughout the year, with the highest monthly total recorded in August at 19 595 head and the lowest in March at 13 501.
