Livestock, the real engine of Chadian growth
In the second quarter of 2026, Chad's economy accelerated thanks to livestock and food crops, while extractive activities declined. A useful reminder: the country's wealth is not just oil.
Translated from French. Lire en français
Growth of 4.1%
According to the National Institute of Statistics, Economic and Demographic Studies (INSEED), Chad's real GDP grew by 4.1% in the second quarter of 2026, reaching 2,609.5 billion FCFA. That is better than in the same period of 2025 (3.2%).
The primary sector leads
This performance owes a great deal to the primary sector. Livestock grew by 6.8%, food crops by 8.2% and forestry by 4%. Only fishing declined, by 11.2%, because of lower catches.
Livestock carries considerable weight: together with hunting, it accounts for 605.1 billion FCFA of value added over the quarter. With food crops, it makes up about 85% of the primary sector. Meanwhile, extractive activities contracted by 2%.
From herd to industry
Chad has one of the largest livestock herds in Africa. Yet much of it is exported on the hoof, without local processing. Every animal sold live abroad means value added, jobs and tax revenue leaving the country.
The options are well known: modern slaughterhouses, a cold chain, tanneries, dairies and health standards that allow meat exports. Partners are supporting this shift: the French Development Agency has committed 6.6 billion FCFA to support livestock farming in the Lake Chad basin.
A lever for Chad Connexion 2030
Local processing of animal products is among the priorities of the 2027 budget. For investors, it is a sector with strong potential, provided that issues of energy, financing and value chain organisation are resolved.
Key figures
- GDP growth in Q2 2026: 4.1%
- Livestock: +6.8%; food crops: +8.2%
- Extractive activities: -2%
- Published on:
- Wednesday, 28 October 2026
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