The ongoing conflict involving the United States, Israel, and Iran has cast a shadow over Ethiopia’s livestock export sector. According to the Livestock Development Institute, geopolitical tensions in the Middle East are causing logistical disruptions. Specifically, the unrest has triggered a significant surge in fuel prices and shortages, directly impacting the country’s meat and slaughter byproduct trade.
Despite these geopolitical headwinds, Ethiopia’s export sector has demonstrated notable resilience. The Institute revealed that the country secured substantial revenue from meat and animal product exports over the past nine months. Dr. Sahlu Mulu, Coordinator of the Socio-Economics and Value Chain Management Sector at the Institute, attributed this success to a steady supply of inputs to processing industries and strategic market expansion.
However, the domestic supply chain has not been entirely immune to the global crisis. Dr. Sahlu explained that the conflict-induced diesel shortage has created operational gaps. Transporting slaughter animals and essential raw materials from pastoral areas to central processing facilities has become increasingly challenging, threatening to slow down production timelines.
In response to these supply chain bottlenecks, stakeholders are intensifying efforts to stabilize the sector. The government and industry leaders are prioritizing processing plants by streamlining input delivery. Dr. Sahlu emphasized that aggressive measures are underway to mitigate the current challenges and sustain the positive economic momentum gained earlier in the fiscal year.
To reduce dependency on volatile zones, Ethiopia is actively pivoting its trade strategy toward safer international markets. While Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have traditionally been the primary destinations for Ethiopian meat, exporters are now aggressively exploring new markets in regions untouched by the conflict to ensure long-term stability.