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Sheep meat and goat meat sets export records
- Food For Sale
Sheep meat and goat meat sets export records
Sheep meat and goat meat exports has seen a significant burst in sales volumes in the last financial year. The export numbers for red meat are the highest on record. It is now surpassing over 2 million tonnes. Sheep meat and goat meat exports has seen a significant burst in sales volumes in the last financial year.passing over 2 million tonnes.
Lamb, mutton and goat meat all experienced record high volumes. Subsequently, Australian beef exports are matching the levels seen in 2019-20 period.
Lamb and mutton
Sheep meat exports are exceeding 587,000 tonnes during 2023-24 financial year. It is a 24 percent increase over 2022-23 financial year. Thus it is highest on record. It is mostly driven by the demand of Australian lamb and mutton in the USA.
Exports lifted across the board. There were significant increases seen in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. It is clearly the growing region for Australian exports. Thus far, exports to the region increased by whopping 76 percent to more than 125,000 tonnes. Lamb exports increased by 60 percent and mutton exports more than doubled to over 54,000 tonnes.
Lamb exports to the USA rose by 20 percent to over 80,000 tonnes. In the same period mutton exports to Malaysia rose by 14 percent to over 11,500 tonnes. So far, the only other major market that did not experience a growth is China.
Beef trade
Beef exports are continuing to increase too. It has surpassed 1.2 million tonnes last financial year. It is a 29 percent rise from 2022-23 financial year. Thus far, there has been a huge lift in exports to the USA. The export quantities are exceeding 340,000 tonnes. Thus, doubling the exports.
This is due to a period of rapid destocking in the USA cattle herds. It was mostly between 2018 and 2023 when USA slaughter had declined. Simultaneously, the demand for Australian been remained robust and the USA dollar has strengthened. Therefore, meaning that demand for Aussie beef has lifted substantially.
In the meantime, exports to Australia’s other major trading partners recorded strong growth too. Thus far, exports to Japan increased by 14 percent to 238,000 tonnes, exports to China rose 7 percent to 197,048 tonnes and exports to South Korea to 191,270 tonnes which was 8 percent increase.
Goat meat
Australian goat meat exports are experiencing a significant increase. However, while the volume is up, export value was down. It reflects the decline in export goat meat prices. Over the last 18 months goat meat prices have fallen from over $12.00 per kg to below $7.00 per kg.
A total of 33,890 tonnes of Australian goat meat was exported in 2023. This was a significant increase on 2022 exports of 21,830 tonnes. The exports rose to over 42,300 tonnes in the 2024 financial year. It makes it the highest export figures on record.
