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Mutton exports contract in March
07 April 2016
Australian mutton exports in March declined 3% on the corresponding month last year, to 15,144 tonnes swt (Department of Agriculture and Water Resources).
In March, compared to last year, exports to:
- China decreased 5%, to 2,325 tonnes swt
- Saudi Arabia decreased 50%, to 1,189 tonnes swt
- Malaysia increased 2%, to 2,091 tonnes swt
- The US increased 1%, 1,147 tonnes swt
- The UAE increased 12%, 1,433 tonnes swt
For the March quarter (January to March), shipments have totalled 42,077 tonnes swt – a decrease of 5% on year-ago volumes. Exports to the US and the UAE increased 6% and 10% year-on-year, to 4,108 tonnes swt and 3,496 tonnes swt, respectively. In contrast, volumes to China and Saudi Arabia for the three months fell 41% and 43%, at 5,845 tonnes swt and 3,540 tonnes swt, respectively.
Mutton exports are expected to continue declining in 2016, the result of lower production – following three years of historically high sheep slaughter.
