According to the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS), Pakistan exported 8,910 M.T. of meat and meat preparations in July for a value of $34,866,000, up from $25,409,000 during the same time last year.
Pakistan exported meat and meat preparations worth $426,708,000 in fiscal year 2022-2023 as opposed to $341,006,000 in fiscal year 2021-2022, a 25.13% increase. United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Bahrain were the main export destinations.
The increase in exports, according to Mr. Bilal Tata, a member of the All Pakistan Meat Exporters & Processors Association of Pakistan (APMEPA), is the result of Pakistani goods becoming more competitive on the world market due to currency depreciation and increased demand from GCC nations as well as new markets like Jordan and Uzbekistan following the recovery of the world economy.
Due to its enormous number of cattle, it has a sizable untapped export potential, which puts it in a good position to expand its meat sector, including the processed meat market segment. A more effective supply chain with lower animal procurement costs for meat processors has enormous potential to significantly increase export earnings and farm income.
Among all meat exports, beef retains a large amount of importance. According to the UN Comtrade, 2020, with almost $300 million in export earnings, $245 million of which came from exports of bovine meat, meat – and beef in particular – has gradually become a major agricultural export product.
One of the three processing facilities that the Pakistani Ministry of National Food Security and Research has suggested for export to China is Tata Best Foods Ltd.
Owner of the business Bilal Tata noted that China is a major consumer and a new market for Pakistani beef exports. In order to abide by veterinary health and public health regulations in both China and Pakistan, efforts are being made to comply with extensive requirements regarding animal disease management, processing conditions, storage, certification, packaging, transportation, and labeling under official supervision in Pakistan.
Recognizing the industry’s potential, the Pakistani government has been actively promoting and supporting the export of meat products by streamlining the export process, upgrading infrastructure, and giving meat businesses the support they need. For processed beef products primarily aimed at Chinese markets, there is opportunity for knowledge transfer through JVs, according to Tata.