Every year during Eid-ul-Adha, Muslims around the world come together to observe a sacred tradition — Qurbani, or animal sacrifice. But beyond its deep religious significance, these annual ritual powers a huge global economy that stretches from rural farms to international leather markets.
Estimates suggest that the global Qurbani market generates over $100 billion in economic activity, supporting millions of livelihoods across agriculture, transport, retail, and manufacturing.
The Heart of the Economy: Livestock Sales
At the core of the Qurbani economy is livestock. In countries like Bangladesh, Pakistan, India, Indonesia, and parts of Africa and the Middle East, the festival season brings an explosion in demand for cows, goats, sheep, and camels.
In Bangladesh, the Eid-ul-Adha economy is worth over Tk100,000 crore (about $9 billion), with around Tk60,000 crore spent on animals alone. Around 12 million animals are sold during the season, supporting farmers, herders, traders, and transporters — many of whom rely on these sales for their annual income.
Eid-ul-Adha boosts the national economy of Indonesia, the most populous Muslim-majority nation in the world, by more than Rp200 trillion, or over $12.2 billion. This amount includes the supply, killing, and processing of roughly 1.5 million Qurbani animals. The celebration also boosts associated industries, such as spice markets, where rising demand drives up costs for necessities like garlic and chiles.
Saudi Arabia consumes over 3.5 million sheep a year, and during Eid-ul-Adha, livestock sales quadruple. Due to higher import prices and increased demand, cattle prices climb by 15–20% during the festival. With costs ranging from $240 to $386 per animal, the market offers a variety of imported sheep, particularly from Sudan, Jordan, Romania, Spain, and Georgia.
In Pakistan, over 6.8 million animals were sacrificed in 2024, injecting PKR 839 billion (roughly $3 billion) into the economy — making up about 1% of the country’s GDP. In cities like Karachi and Lahore, temporary animal markets become major economic hubs overnight.
From Hides to Handbags: The Leather Boom
One of the biggest beneficiaries of Qurbani is the leather industry. Roughly 60% of the year’s rawhide is collected during this short festival window.In Bangladesh, where leather and leather goods exports bring in over $1.3 billion a year, Eid is a make-or-break season. Tanneries ramp up operations, and thousands of workers process hides for domestic use and export. However, rising inflation and lower international demand have led to more cautious production in 2024 — with targets dropping from 9 million to 8 million pieces of rawhide.In Pakistan, the leather sector also sees a seasonal boost. The raw materials gathered during Eid-ul-Adha feed into a supply chain that produces shoes, bags, belts, and jackets for both local and global markets.
More Than Meat: Food, Spices, and Sweets
The Qurbani economy doesn’t end with the animals. The days following the sacrifice see a sharp spike in spending on spices, oil, sweets, drinks, and cooking essentials.
In Bangladesh, Eid-ul-Adha brings Tk25,000 crore in additional activity to the food and beverage sector. Even yogurt sales alone generate over Tk1,000 crore, as families prepare traditional meals. Across South Asia and the Middle East, sweet shops, spice vendors, and meat processors see some of their busiest days of the year.
Digital Qurbani: A Growing Global Trend
The rise of online Qurbani services is transforming the market. Platforms like Ez Qurban in Malaysia allow people to book their sacrifice online, choose a country for distribution, and receive proof of completion — all digitally. This model appeals to urban Muslims and members of the diaspora who want to take part in the ritual without handling the logistics.
Ez Qurban now operates in over 40 countries, highlighting a new frontier in the Qurbani business: tech-enabled transparency, convenience, and international reach.
Waste or Resource? Managing the Aftermath
One of the biggest challenges after Qurbani is managing the huge volume of waste — from blood and bones to discarded hides. In many cities, poor waste disposal leads to blocked drains and health risks.
However, a growing number of local governments and private initiatives are finding ways to turn waste into wealth. Some programs are using animal by-products to make biogas, organic fertilizer, or even pet food, offering a greener path forward.
Eid-ul-Adha is more than just a religious festival — it’s a powerful economic engine that touches nearly every part of society. From farmers and butchers to truck drivers, leather exporters, and sweet shop owners, millions benefit directly or indirectly from Qurbani.
With smarter planning, sustainable practices, and digital innovation, the Qurbani economy has the potential to grow even more — offering not just spiritual fulfillment, but economic opportunity on a global scale.
