Sheepmeat exports update - South East Asia

During the first ten months of 2015, Australian exports of sheepmeat into the South East Asia (SEA) region (comprising Thailand, Singapore, Philippines, Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam, Myanmar, Laos, Cambodia and Brunei Darussalam) have eased slightly, back 2% year on year, to 33,123 tonnes shipped weight (swt), due to a mixed performance across key markets.  

Lamb exports into Malaysia during this period jumped 18% year on year, to 19,592 tonnes swt; however mutton exports fell 6% year on year, to 12,287 tonnes  swt for the year to date. 

Exports into Singapore were back across both lamb and mutton, with lamb falling 11% year-on-year to 1,609 tonnes swt, and mutton easing 2% to 7,291 tonnes swt. 

Indonesia is an emerging sheepmeat market for Australia. Sheepmeat exports to Indonesia increased 1,300 tonnes to 2,364 tonnes swt. The increased intake could be partly attributed to Indonesian importers searching for an alternate protein source following the cut restrictions placed on beef imports early this year.