Ethiopia earned USD 128.3 million from livestock exports during the 2025/26 fiscal year, an increase of more than 35 percent from approximately USD 95 million in previous years, according to the Livestock Development Institute.
Livestock Development Institute Director General Asrat Tera said the growth demonstrates the sector’s potential but remains well below what Ethiopia could generate from its livestock resources. He said annual export earnings could reach at least USD 1 billion if existing challenges are addressed.
Speaking at a linkage negotiation and contract signing forum, Asrat said Ethiopia’s 12 export abattoirs are operating at only about 10 percent of their combined production capacity of 200,000 metric tons.
The government plans to increase capacity utilization to 50 percent during the 2026/27 fiscal year. Under the target, Ethiopia aims to export approximately 46,000 metric tons of meat and meat products and generate more than USD 250 million in revenue.
Asrat identified inadequate and inconsistent livestock supply as one of the main constraints limiting the performance of export abattoirs. He said improved supply chain management and stronger commercial relationships between pastoralists, livestock traders and export abattoirs would be necessary to increase production and value addition.
Livestock Development Institute Deputy Director General Sahilu Mulu said the government is also working to strengthen livestock processing and marketing systems for domestic and international markets.
Three field support teams have recently been deployed to the Somali Region, South Ethiopia Regional State, southern Oromia and the Afar Region to work with stakeholders on livestock production, aggregation and marketing.
Ethiopian Meat Producers and Exporters Association President Kelifa Hussein said a pilot arrangement has also been introduced to enable livestock suppliers in the Somali Region and Borana to deliver animals directly to export abattoirs.
Kelifa said reducing unnecessary intermediaries could lower transaction costs, improve competitiveness and increase the economic benefits received by livestock traders and pastoralists. The association plans to assess the pilot and support its expansion through logistics and financing.
The forum brought together export abattoir operators and livestock traders’ associations from the Somali Region and Borena Zone, with participants signing agreements aimed at strengthening direct market linkages.
Source: Ethiopian News Agency
