Ethiopia Earns 98 mln US Dollars From Livestock Product Exports in Nine Months

Mintesinot Niggusie

The Livestock Development Institute said Ethiopia generated 98 million US dollars from exports of meat, slaughter by-products and other animal products during the first nine months of the current Ethiopian fiscal year.

The revenue was earned from the processing and export of 17,000 tonnes of livestock products to international markets, according to Sahlu Mulu (PhD), co-ordinator of socio-economics and value chain management at the institute, told Bisrat Radio.

Dr Sahlu said meat exports accounted for the largest share of the earnings, with meat and slaughter by-products alone generating 97.4 million US dollars during the period. The export performance exceeded official targets and represented an 8 percent increase in revenue compared with the same period a year earlier, while export volumes rose by 1 percent.

According to the institute, improvements in product quality and safety standards helped processors meet requirements in export markets, while stronger logistics services supported the movement of products to destination countries.

Ethiopia’s livestock product exports are mainly shipped to Gulf countries as well as markets in the Middle East and the Far East, where demand for processed meat and animal by-products remains strong.