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September sheepmeat exports surge
05 October 2017
Lamb
Australian lamb exports for September totalled just over 19,700 tonnes shipped weight (swt), up 13% year-on-year (DAWR). Shipments to the US and China, two of the largest markets (on volume basis) for Australian lamb, increased 25% and 30% from last year to 39,940 tonnes swt and 35,047 tonnes swt, respectively. This was predominantly as a result of increased Australian supply, as dry conditions across key lamb producing areas incentivised turn off and supplementary feeding boosted carcase weights.
Total exports for the year-to-date totalled approximately 183,000 tonnes swt, up 5% on the same period last year. Exports to China increased to just over 35,000 tonnes swt from the 28,000 tonnes swt shipped during the same period 12 months previously, representing an increase of 24%.
Mutton
Australian mutton exports for September totalled just over 14,600 tonnes swt, up 37% from last year. Similar to lamb, sheepmeat exports to China increased year-on-year, to just over 3,300 tonnes swt, more than doubling from year-ago volumes.
However, shipments for the year-to-date remained consistent with last year, with just over 98,000 tonnes swt exported, up by less than 1%.
For more information on exports please click here to view Market Information’s export summaries.
