ISLAMABAD (ABC) — Pakistan needs to increase its share in the global bovine meat market.
“Pakistan is endowed with one of the largest livestock populations in the world, from which an immense export potential for meat products is yet to be derived,” pointed out Dr Mansoor Ahmad, a former director general at Livestock and Dairy Development Department, Punjab.
Talking to WealthPK, he said: “Our industry faces challenges regarding animal sourcing, low carcass yields, and the prevalence of foot and mouth disease (FMD), which limits exports from the country to a few geographical destinations.
This low concentration of Pakistan’s export basket in terms of products and markets leaves the industry exposed to product- and partner-specific shocks.”
“The lack of market access is the most critical obstacle that is slowing down the growth of Pakistan’s exports.
If the government does not take effective and immediate measures to address this issue, it will be challenging for Pakistan to increase its exports of bovine meat,” he said.
He stated that the focus should be on removing constraints, including the elimination of FMD, the high costs of sourcing animals, and the low yields.
He also mentioned that other concerns, such as the lack of traceability of livestock and the inability of some meat processors to meet quality and food safety standards, resulted in limited access to Pakistani meat in most importing countries, and should be addressed extensively.
He said Pakistan must be able to show environmental responsibility, ensure animal care, adopt modern production technology and train the related workforce to help capture the export market share.
Pakistan predominantly exports fresh or chilled meat, specifically in the form of full or half carcasses, with a major portion of its exports going to the Gulf countries.
Pakistan has witnessed significant growth in meat exports over the past decade, owing to the country’s competitive edge in supplying meat to Arab countries.
Beef, in particular, has emerged as a leading agricultural export commodity, contributing to export revenues of approximately $300 million in 2020, with bovine meat accounting for $245 million.
However, despite this surge, Pakistan’s global presence in the meat market remains limited, with a market share of only around 0.5% in the bovine meat market in 2020, as per the UN Comtrade report.
The booming global market for bovine meat is shifting from fresh or chilled beef to the frozen market segment.
The bovine meat trade in 2020 was worth $54 billion (UN Comtrade, 2020). During 2016-20, the industry grew at a healthy compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.3%.
Data from the Trade Development Authority of Pakistan shows that the exports of bovine meat stood at $24.8 million in February 2023 against $24.3 million during the same period of 2022, showing a growth of 2%.