Sheepmeat
New Zealand lamb and mutton
The sheepmeat industry in New Zealand (NZ) is highly export focused, with over 90% of mutton and lamb production typically exported each year.
Although NZ is the world's third largest producer of lamb and mutton (Australia is the second largest), it is the world's largest exporter, shipping 257,836 tonnes swt of lamb in 2011, and 70,492 tonnes swt of mutton (in comparison, Australia exported 160,007 tonnes swt of lamb and 82,217 tonnes swt of mutton over the same period).
The main market for NZ lamb is the European Union (EU), which takes around 48% of total exports, but generates a higher proportion of its lamb export revenue. NZ sheepmeat in the EU is subject to a tariff-free quota of 228,254 tonnes carcase weight equivalent (cwe), significantly higher than Australia's quota of 19,186 tonnes cwe.
The latest export statistics reveal that New Zealand exported 28,748 tonnes swt of lamb in February 2012, 12% more than a year earlier. In contrast, NZ mutton exports were down 47% for the month, to 6,815 tonnes swt, with ewes being retained for breeding purposes.
Find out more about the lamb and mutton market in New Zealand from the New Zealand Red Meat Market Report
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