Lamb and mutton export volumes hit highest level on record
Red meat exports from Australia have hit record levels in 2023-24, with the lift driven by demand from the Middle East and North Africa. We break down the numbers.
Lamb, mutton and goat meat exports from Australia are the highest on record.
The latest figures, released by the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, show sheepmeat exports reached 587,262 tonnes in 2023-24 – 24 per cent higher than the previous financial year and the highest on record.
This lift was driven by the Middle East and North Africa, where exports reached 125,088 tonnes, up 76 per cent.
The United States also increased its share of lamb, taking 20 per cent more across the year to 80,787 tonnes.
Episode3 director and analyst Matt Dalgleish said there had been strong demand from the United States for lamb and a resurgence from MENA.
“There’s a slowly growing appetite for lamb in the US,” Mr Dalgleish said.
“Demand from China has been subdued because of their economy, but there has been growth in places like Malaysia for mutton,” he said.
Beef exports were up 29 per cent to reach 1.2 million tonnes in 2023-24.
According to Meat and Livestock Australia global supply analyst Tim Jackson this was a similar volume to 2019-20.
Mr Dalgleish said beef exports were being driven by the US and its strong demand for product as they face a low cattle herd.
“There’s also been a good turnaround for exports to Japan,” Mr Dalgleish said.
Exports to North America doubled to 343,034 tonnes and to Japan volumes increased 14 per cent to 238,220 tonnes. China also took 7 per cent more at 197,048 tonnes.
Meanwhile, goat meat exports shot to the highest figure on record, up 63 per cent to 42,383 tonnes for the financial year.
Mr Jackson said most of the increase in exports went to North America, with exports to the US rising 96 per cent to 22,427 tonnes, and exports to Canada lifted 118 per cent to 2085 tonnes.
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