Botswana’s recurring foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) outbreaks are proving increasingly costly, with neighbouring Namibia emerging as the biggest beneficiary after securing a significant portion of Botswana’s unused premium Norwegian beef export quota worth an estimated N$100 million (approximately P75 million).
The development highlights the growing economic consequences of Botswana’s livestock disease challenges, which have repeatedly shut the country out of lucrative European beef markets while allowing competitors to seize opportunities that would ordinarily belong to Botswana producers.
Namibia’s Meat Corporation (Meatco) announced last week that it had secured an additional 344,766 kilograms of premium Norwegian beef quota from Botswana under the Southern African Customs Union-European Free Trade Association (SACU-EFTA) quota-sharing framework after Botswana was unable to utilise its allocation because of FMD-related export restrictions.
The additional allocation is expected to generate approximately N$100 million in export earnings, increasing the projected value of Meatco’s Norwegian exports this year to N$365 million.
The transfer follows Meatco’s rapid utilisation of its own Norwegian quota by the end of June-five months earlier than last year prompting the Namibian government to negotiate access to Botswana’s unused allocation rather than allowing the valuable quota to lapse.
‘Namibia has fully utilised the 2026 Norwegian beef export quota allocated to Meatco by the end of June,’ the corporation said in a statement.
It explained that Botswana made 459,688 kilograms of its remaining quota available, with 344,766 kilograms subsequently allocated to Meatco in accordance with Namibia’s quota-sharing formula.
Meatco Interim Chief Executive Officer, Ambassador Albertus Aochamub, described the development as a major milestone for Namibia’s beef industry.
‘Fully utilising our Norwegian quota by June is a significant milestone for Namibia’s beef industry and demonstrates the continued confidence that international customers place in premium Namibian beef,’ said Aochamub.
He added that ‘We welcome the agreement between the Governments of Namibia and Botswana, which enables Namibia to further benefit from this important market, and we are committed to fully utilising the additional allocation before 31 December 2026.’
During a briefing to Namibian Prime Minister Elijah Ngurare at the Meatco abattoir in Windhoek, Aochamub made it clear that Botswana’s FMD situation had effectively opened the door for Namibia.
‘This year Botswana is unable to utilise its allocation, and they have given Namibia the remainder of their quota to execute on their behalf,’ he said.
He added that Namibia expects to export the additional allocation within the next two months, ensuring the quota remains within SACU instead of being forfeited.
While the quota-sharing arrangement benefits the regional trading bloc by ensuring available market access is fully utilised, it underscores the mounting cost of Botswana’s FMD outbreaks.
Botswana has endured repeated FMD outbreaks in recent years, triggering export restrictions to premium markets such as Norway and the European Union. Those restrictions have disrupted the country’s beef export industry, one of its key non-mining foreign exchange earners, while competitors with disease-free status continue strengthening their foothold in international markets.
The latest transfer represents more than just unused export volume. It reflects lost premium earnings for Botswana’s cattle farmers, processors and the wider economy at a time when the country is battling sluggish economic growth and seeking to diversify away from diamonds.
Meanwhile, Namibia says international demand for its beef continues to strengthen despite weaker returns in the European Union and South African markets.
According to Meatco, the Norwegian market remains one of its most valuable premium export destinations, delivering significantly higher returns to livestock producers.
‘The milestone underscores Meatco’s continued focus on improving commercial performance, maximising value from premium export markets and strengthening returns for Namibian livestock producers,’ the corporation said.