The BMC throughput in 2008 was significantly reduced, 23% lower, when compared to that of 2007. Naturally, this has resulted in lesser meat available to sell hence it is not surprising that the turnover for 2008 is lower than that of 2007. Furthermore, the outbreak of foot and mouth disease in October 2008 in Gantsi had a negative impact on supply to the international market as, in addition to production stoppage, a significant amount of meat that was produced for the export market had to be turned back and used in the cannery.

The good news however has been the appreciation on the price of beef in the European Union influenced by shortage of supply as Brazilian imports into the EU were significantly reduced following the country’s inability to demonstrate good traceability of cattle from most farms. Total turnover for the period was P687.1 million and is 8.6% lower than that of the same period of the previous year when turnover was P749.9 million.

The highest contribution to turnover was from the United Kingdom with P204.7 million which is 7% higher than that of the same period of the previous year when turnover was P190.4 million. Botswana was the second largest contributor with P154.7 million which is only 1.7% higher than the previous year’s performance.

Revenue generated from the South African market was the third largest contribution of P81.8 million which is a significant decline when compared to that of the previous year when its contribution was P187.6 million. It should be noted that, in the past year, all production from the Francistown abattoir was channeled to the South African market as EU eligibility status had not yet been granted. The fourth and fifth largest contributor to turnover has been Norway and Greece with P47.7 million and P47.3 million respectively, both of which are up on the previous year’s performance when they contributed P30.1 million and P24.1 million respectively. The rest of the revenue was from other markets.

As regards contribution by product line, the highest contributor to turnover at 48% was chilled vacuum packed boneless beef with P326.3 million from the sale of 6,372 tons. This contribution is better than that of the previous year’s even though there is an 18% reduction on the tonnage sold. This improvement has been due to appreciation of the average sales price from P39.46 per kilogram to P51.21 per kilogram. The frozen beef has contributed P256.3 million or 37% to turnover from the sale of 10,772 tons compared to P327.3 million from the sale of 18,675 tons in the previous year’s period. While the quantity sold has reduced by 42%, the reduction in revenue is only by 22% as average sales value improved from P17.53 per kg to P23.80 per kg. Fresh meat (chilled and frozen beef) has therefore contributed 85% of total turnover from the sale of 17,143 tons. Canned products contribution of P51.7 million is 8% of the overall turnover while hides contributed P18.0 million which is 3% of the overall. Offal and Byproducts contributed P18.2 million or 3% and P16.1 million or 2% respectively.