ABSTRACTWe investigate Botswana’s beef export competitiveness for the period 1961–2011 using the Normalized Revealed Comparative Advantage (NRCA) index. Results indicate that Botswana has had a comparative advantage throughout the review period. Overall, the country ranked fifth out of nine leading beef exporters. However, its comparative advantage weakened after 1975, and the country has recently been bypassed by three other key beef exporters which initially had comparative disadvantages. This was largely driven by increasing domestic demand for beef (and stagnant domestic supply). Policymakers should consider removal of the state-trader export monopoly to promote private sector entry and vertical diversification into value-added exports.