Where Africa's cattle go
Live animals and beef move from Africa to the Gulf, the EU and across regional borders — often at premium prices. Understanding export routes and requirements helps owners and traders capture that value.
9 export abattoirs ship 150 MT/week to Middle East
Only 7 of 1,000 facilities meet export standards
EU-certified FMD-free zone. Premium prices.
FMD outbreaks since 2019 disrupting export status
Up to 10,000 cattle annually. Port of Berbera.
Export readiness checklist
What it takes to access premium export markets.
The export opportunity for African cattle owners
Africa holds a vast share of the world's cattle, yet captures a small share of global beef trade. The Gulf states import billions of dollars of live animals and meat each year, much of it during the Hajj and Ramadan seasons; the EU offers premium prices to certified, FMD-free suppliers like Botswana. For owners, proximity to an export corridor and the right disease status can lift farm-gate prices well above the domestic baseline.
Explore export detail by country: Ethiopia, Kenya, Botswana, South Africa, Somalia.