Export volumes continue to climb
08 June 2023
Key points:
- Beef exports rose by 14% compared to May 2022 to 91,479 tonnes.
- Combined lamb and mutton exports were 48,108 tonnes, 25% higher than May 2022 and the largest monthly volume exported on record.
- China was the largest export market in each category, with total export volume rising by 62% year-on-year.
Australian red meat exports rose in May, with beef exports the strongest since 2020 and lamb recording the highest figures since 2019.
Beef
91,479 tonnes of beef were exported in May, 27% more than April and 14% more than May last year. Grainfed exports fell slightly from year-ago levels to 27,791 tonnes, while grassfed exports rose by 30% to 63,688 tonnes.
Source: DAFF, MLA
The pattern of increased grassfed exports and lower grainfed exports can be seen in the export mix; exports to the United States, a key market for lean, grassfed beef, were up by 63% year-on-year to 17,957 tonnes, while exports to Japan (which imports considerably more grainfed beef) fell by 24% from year-ago levels.
Exports to South-East Asia grew by 14% to 10,384 tonnes, largely due to a 49% increase to Indonesia, the largest market in the region. Meanwhile, exports to the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region fell by 3% to 2,584 tonnes due to a 26% decline in Saudi Arabia, which was largely offset by a 41% increase in exports to the United Arab Emirates.
China remained the largest market for beef, where exports rose 44% year-on-year to 19,569 tonnes.
Lamb and mutton
Overall, sheepmeat exports were up 25% year-on-year to 48,108 tonnes, which is the highest monthly export volume on record.
Lamb exports rose by 7% to 28,518 tonnes while mutton exports rose by a massive 68% to 19,590 tonnes.
By market:
- China lamb exports rose by 67% to 7,196 tonnes, while mutton exports rose 105% to 9,626 tonnes.
- USA lamb exports fell by 26% 5,354 tonnes, while mutton exports rose by 12% to 742 tonnes.
- MENA lamb exports rose by 48% to 4,857 tonnes, while mutton exports rose by 117% to 3,946 tonnes.
- South-East Asia lamb exports fell by 32% to 3,338 tonnes, while mutton exports fell 5% to 3,071 tonnes.
Very large increases in mutton exports, especially to China and MENA, have driven volumes well above a record year in 2022 in volume terms. China is now the largest exporter of both lamb and mutton, as frozen lamb exports to the United States have fallen back from 2022 levels.
What’s next?
The Australia-United Kingdom Free Trade Agreement came into effect on 31 May, so trade flows are likely to reflect increased market access for Australian red meat in the United Kingdom. Red meat exports to the UK in May totaled 1,150 tonnes, so some increase is likely over the next few months.
