Norbrook Kenya exports veterinary medicines to MENA in first Africa-to-global shipment milestone

KENYA – Norbrook Laboratories has exported veterinary medicines from its Kenya manufacturing site to the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) for the first time, marking a milestone in Africa’s role in global animal health supply chains.

The initial shipments, dispatched in February 2026, included four products: Levafas Diamond, Albafas 10%, Noromectin Drench and Bendamec, used to control parasitic infections in livestock. 

The development represents the first time Norbrook-manufactured products from Africa have been exported beyond the continent.

The exports signal growing confidence in Kenya’s pharmaceutical manufacturing capabilities, particularly in meeting international regulatory and quality standards required for markets in the MENA region. 

The shipments also featured new anti-counterfeiting security measures, a first for the East African veterinary pharmaceutical market, aimed at strengthening product integrity and traceability.

Stephen Campbell, Site Lead at Norbrook Kenya, said the milestone reflects the site’s ability to manufacture high-quality veterinary medicines for global markets and supports the company’s broader expansion strategy.

The move comes as demand for animal health products continues to rise across MENA, driven by expanding livestock production, increasing focus on food security and efforts to improve animal health management systems. 

Veterinary medicines, such as antiparasitics, play a critical role in supporting feed efficiency, weight gain, and overall productivity in livestock systems.

For Kenya, the development aligns with national ambitions to expand local manufacturing and increase exports under industrialisation frameworks such as Vision 2030. 

Strengthening pharmaceutical production capacity is also seen as a way to reduce reliance on imports, create skilled jobs, and support value addition within the livestock sector. 

“This milestone reflects the strong collaboration between the Norbrook MENA and Kenya teams. Combining regional manufacturing, supply chain, regulatory and market expertise strengthens our ability to serve customers and build long-term partnerships across the regions,” noted Dr Saad Al Shorbaghi, Regional Sales Director for MENA.

Regional manufacturing gains traction in animal health

Norbrook’s export milestone reflects a broader shift toward regional manufacturing of animal health products across Africa and the Middle East. 

Governments and private sector players in Africa are increasingly investing in local production to improve supply chain resilience and reduce exposure to global disruptions.

South Africa has restarted local production of foot‑and‑mouth disease (FMD) vaccines for the first time in more than 20 years. 

The country’s Agricultural Research Council (ARC) and the Onderstepoort Veterinary Research facility produced the first batch of locally made multi‑strain FMD vaccine doses in early 2026.

In recent years, several multinational animal health companies have expanded their presence in emerging markets through local manufacturing, partnerships, and distribution networks.

In 2023, Boehringer Ingelheim announced the expansion of its veterinary vaccine manufacturing and distribution footprint in Egypt through a local production partnership with the Egyptian Holding Company for Biological Products and Vaccines (VACSERA).

Improved access to veterinary pharmaceuticals directly impacts productivity. 

Effective parasite control reduces feed losses, improves feed conversion efficiency and supports healthier animals, ultimately strengthening the entire value chain from feed production to meat and dairy output.

Norbrook is positioning its local facility as a regional supply hub, demonstrating how African manufacturing can play a larger role in serving international markets.

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