Foot-and-Mouth Disease outbreak threatens Namibia's N$5.5 billion beef exports
A Foot-and-Mouth Disease outbreak in Namibia has triggered a nationwide movement ban on livestock, threatening the country's N$5.5 billion beef export industry. Economic analysts warn that the outbreak could significantly slow national growth and impact rural incomes.
Why it matters
The outbreak poses a severe threat to Namibia's economy and its ability to maintain premium beef trade agreements with the EU, UK, and Norway.
THE Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD) outbreak in Namibia could cost the economy about N$1.8 billion over 2026 and 2027 in the base case, with growth expected to slow to around 2% this year as livestock movement restrictions disrupt farming, meat processing, exports and rural incomes.
According to an economic assessment by the Simonis Storm Research Team, the outbreak is expected to reduce 2026 economic growth by about 0.45 percentage points from a pre-outbreak estimate of 2.5%, with the length of the nationwide movement ban identified as the key factor determining the eventual economic impact.
The assessment follows confirmation on 23 September of FMD on a commercial farm in the Karasburg State Veterinary District in the //Kharas Region. Of 11 cattle showing clinical signs that were sampled, 10 tested positive at the Central Veterinary Laboratory, while local reports put the number of cattle showing clinical signs at 63.
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