• Somalia’s livestock exports could reach a record $1 billion by end-2025, marking an eighth consecutive year of growth.
• The country has tripled its livestock export revenues since 2018, supported by strong Middle Eastern demand.
• EU and World Bank-funded programs are modernizing production and improving water and pastoral infrastructure.

Somalia expects its livestock exports to generate more than $1 billion by the end of 2025, according to projections from the Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries reported by local and international media. If achieved, the milestone would mark the country’s highest-ever annual export revenue from the sector.

Livestock contributes about 9% of Somalia’s GDP and accounts for over 60% of total export earnings, underscoring its central role in the national economy. The forecast extends an upward trend that has lasted nearly a decade, with export revenues rising from $311 million in 2018 to $970 million in 2024, data from the Central Bank show.

Somalia’s livestock exports consist mainly of sheep and goats, which make up around 90% of total shipments. The sector’s performance has benefited from sustained demand in the Middle East — the country’s largest export destination — and a reduction in market share by major competitors.

“The Somali livestock industry has capitalized on the decline of Sudan and Australia’s market positions in the Gulf region,” said Qaasim Abdi Moallim, director of animal health at the Ministry of Livestock, in an interview with Bloomberg on Oct. 17.

Sudan’s exports have been disrupted by ongoing conflict since 2023, while Australia has begun phasing out live animal shipments by sea ahead of a full ban expected in 2028, citing animal welfare concerns.

Data from TradeMap indicate that Middle Eastern countries imported about $2.4 billion worth of sheep and goats in 2024, representing 77% of global imports in this category. Somalia’s growing presence in this market has allowed it to offset regional climate shocks and maintain a steady export trajectory.

Somalia’s sustained export growth has been supported by its large livestock population, which now stands at approximately 56 million head, according to official estimates. Despite high export volumes, the national herd has remained stable, reflecting strong reproductive capacity and herd management practices.

Between 2018 and 2024, Somalia exported 31.5 million animals, the Central Bank reported. This stability underscores the country’s ability to renew its herds while meeting rising international demand.

The livestock industry has attracted major domestic and international investments in recent years, aimed at modernizing production systems and boosting resilience to climate shocks.

Key initiatives include the RAAISE program, launched in 2021 with $17.1 million in EU funding to enhance livestock and fisheries value chains, and the Barwaaqo project, a $70 million World Bank initiative focused on improving water infrastructure and pastoral services in arid regions.

These projects have reinforced the sector’s productivity and adaptability, ensuring steady export growth despite recurrent droughts in the Horn of Africa.

This article was initially published in French by Stéphanas Assocle

Adapted in French by Ange Jason Quenum