n a significant milestone, meat and meat preparations exports in Pakistan surged to an unprecedented level of 104,513 tonnes during the first 10 months of the current fiscal year, generating revenue of $431 million at an average price of $4,121 per tonne.
This achievement marks a remarkable increase from the previous records, with meat exports reaching 100,194 tonnes ($427 million) in the fiscal year 2023, surpassing the previous high of 95,648 tonnes ($331 million) in fiscal year 2021.
Dealers attribute the surge in domestic meat prices to the escalating exports, coupled with animal smuggling to neighboring Afghanistan.
Data from the Sensitive Price Index (SPI) reveals that the national average price of beef with bone (average quality) has risen to Rs700-1,250 per kg, compared to Rs600-1,050 in July 2023.
Similarly, the national average price of mutton (average quality) has climbed to Rs1,500-2,300 per kg from Rs1,400-2,000 in June 2023.
Over the past year, the prices of veal (bachia) meat with and without bones have also increased significantly, reaching Rs1,200-1,300 and Rs1,500-1,600 per kg, respectively.
Exporters attribute their success to the exploration of new markets in recent years. Meat exports, which had remained stagnant at 56,000-85,000 tonnes for over a decade, have now expanded to include destinations like China and South Africa for cooked beef, boneless frozen beef, and heat-treated/cooked frozen beef for Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Central Independent Estates, and Iraq.
For instance, the Organic Meat Company Ltd (OMCL) recently announced the completion of the first phase of its operational expansion project at the Gadap processing facility in Karachi. This expansion, which increases chilled product capacity by 30 percent, significantly boosts overall production capacity.
