Namibia is opening new markets for its beef in China and Russia as the country seeks to reduce its reliance on demand from consumers in the European Union and neighboring South Africa.

Namibia sent “a small consignment” of beef to Russia and the two countries are completing veterinary clearance steps before fully fledged exports begin, Calle Schlettwein, Trade and Industry Minister, said by phone in the capital, Windhoek, on Oct. 13. China has cleared Namibia to start beef exports, after completing health inspections, he said.

“Russia and China have potential, much higher than we can satisfy,” Schlettwein said. “This will help our industry move away from single-market dependency which we have with the EU and South Africa.”

The new markets will enable Namibia to reduce the number of live animals exported to South Africa and Angola, which is a relatively low-value trade, Schlettwein said. Namibia each year sends about 490,000 livestock to South Africa, its largest trading partner. Sales resumed in August after a four-month halt prompted by new veterinary requirements imposed by the South African Department of Agriculture.

Namibia also exports about 17,000 metric tons of processed meats to South Africa and about 9,000 tons of the best cuts of its beef to the EU, P.J. Strydom, general manager at the Meat Board of Namibia, said by phone yesterday.

Chinese demand for beef extends from the finest cuts of fillet steak to offal and “this diversification is much needed” for Namibian producers, Schlettwein said.

Discussions with Russia over meat exports began before the country banned imports of some food goods from the EU in retaliation for western sanctions imposed because of the crisis in Ukraine.

“Russia has said it wants to trade with Africa and it’s an excellent opportunity that we must take to trade with countries that we have good relations with,” Schlettwein said.