Namibia’s cattle exports increased by 57.46% from the 15 902 heads exported during November last year to almost 152 000 cattle exported mainly to the South African, Angolan, Zambian and Zimbabwean markets.
The latest figures released by the Meat Board of Namibia show that the 152 000 cattle exported between now and the final month of last year represents an 8.73% increase than what was exported during the same period in 2022.
The latest data also indicate that local export abattoirs slaughtered 48.15% more than what was slaughtered in 2022, and this number is expected to increase in 2024. On the pricing side of things, weaner prices increased by N$3.58/kg from the November price level of N$27.11/kg to N$30.6/kg in December 2023, while tollies’ prices specifically increased by 33.87%.
Prices have notably picked up in both the southern Veterinary Cordon Fence (VCF) and the northern VCF, with especially the southern prices increasing by 13.20% on a month-to-month basis.
Despite the price increase, the recorded December 2023 price remained at 19.60% lower than it was a year ago, while on the northern side, increases in tollies’ prices by 33.87% were recorded, while heifer prices declined by 5.22% on a month-to-month basis.
Pork in demand
Meanwhile, a total of 3 924 pigs were slaughtered during the month of December last year, growing 1.68% on a month-to-month basis from the previous number of 3 859 heads slaughtered in November of the same year.
The Mariental Abattoir slaughtered 69.62%, whereas the Haloli abattoir slaughtered 28.90%. The remaining 1.4% were slaughtered by other abattoirs.
The number of slaughtered pigs during the month of December is 5.14% more than what was slaughtered during the same month in 2022. In total, 45 292 pigs were slaughtered for 2023 at local abattoirs, which is 2.24% less than what was slaughtered during 2022.
Last year also saw live exports of pigs during the months of May and December, which totaled 198 pigs being exported to Angola only.
The pork ceiling price has been fixed to N$51.03/kg as a mitigation strategy to counter the negative effects of the dwindling RMAA pork price, the current benchmark price for Namibia’s pork ceiling price calculation.
The calculated pork ceiling price recorded a decline from the previous month of November by N$2.08/kg. The December 2023 calculated price is 7.76% lower than the N$51.03/kg recorded during the same month last year.
South African pork prices similarly have dropped from the N$37.47/kg recorded in November to N$35.11/kg in December. This is 7.51% lower than the price recorded in December 2022. The expectations were for prices to trend a little higher during the festive season due to seasonal demand, and then ease post-festive. However, prices trended lower, and are expected to continue on that path over the following months.
On the other hand, pork offal remained the biggest imported product during December last year, with over 255 tonnes being imported. This is 0.78% more than what was imported during November.
Pork neck bones, pork tails and pork hocks and knuckles appear to be the most imported product during the month, which in total made up 37.64% of total imports.
Pork offal made up 64% of total pork imports for the year ending 2023, followed by pork cuts, which accounted for 19.60% of total imports, and processed pork, which took up 14.65%.
-ohembapu@nepc.com.na