Middle East Conflict Severely Hits Kenya’s Meat Exports

Air freight disruptions cut shipments to less than 5% of normal Ramadan demand. Kenya’s meat exports to the Middle East have collapsed to below 5% of expected levels during the Ramadan peak , as regional conflict disrupts air transport and drives freight costs sharply higher, industry officials say. The Middle East remains Kenya’s largest market for meat exports , with the United Arab Emirates accounting for 40–60% of shipments , according to Nicholas Ngahu , CEO of the Kenya Meat and Livestock Exporters Industry Council. Under normal conditions, the country exports about $2.3 million worth of meat products to the region every week . Currently, exporters of fresh chilled meat such as beef, lamb, mutton and goat are only able to ship limited quantities to Abu Dhabi and Dubai , while exports to Oman, Kuwait, Bahrain and Jordan have been significantly disrupted. Ngahu said the sector is operating below 15% of its usual capacity , with Ramadan shipments dropping to less than 5% of expected volumes . The sharp decline is largely due to reduced airline operations and soaring cargo costs . According to Dennis Muraya , director of Konza Clearing Agency, exporters are increasingly forced to use expensive cargo charters into the UAE , with freight rates rising from $1–$1.50 per kilogram to as high as $3–$3.50 , partly driven by higher insurance costs linked to the conflict. As a result, daily export volumes have plunged from about 200 metric tons to just 5–15 tons . Since March 8 , exporters expected shipments to reach one million kilograms , but less than 50,000 kilograms have been exported so far. The disruption is also affecting the wider supply chain, from freight companies and slaughterhouses to livestock traders and farmers . Some exporters are now diverting products to the local market at lower prices , while several abattoirs have reduced casual labour by up to 80% . Industry leaders warn that if the conflict continues beyond Ramadan, freight costs could become unsustainable , threatening the future of many businesses in Kenya’s meat export sector. Source: Newstimehub Kenya Exports Meat Industry Trade Disruption Middle East Conflict Supply Chains