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Australian sheepmeat exports slip in August
08 September 2015
Australian lamb exports in August declined 2% year-on-year, to 17,552 tonnes swt. The proportion of chilled and frozen product remains fairly evenly split, with 45%, or 7,995 tonnes swt chilled and 55%, or 9,557 tonnes swt frozen.
- Lamb exports to the Middle East accounted for 34% of total volume and edged 21% higher in August on year-ago levels, to 5,976 tonnes swt
- Volumes to the US made up for 21% of total exports and were up 4% year-on-year, at 3,637 tonnes swt
- Exports to China and Japan eased 27% and 30%, to 2,307 tonnes swt and 481 tonnes swt, respectively
- Shipments to Korea more than doubled a 385 tonnes swt, while exports to South East Asia were up 37%, at 1,236 tonnes swt
- Lamb to the EU continues to ease, back 43%, to 553 tonnes swt
Weekly eastern states mutton slaughter, reported by MLA, slipped 11% year-on-year in August, to 111,589 head. Subsequently, mutton exports continued to decline (back 15% year-on-year), to 9,291 tonnes swt.
- China, Japan and South East Asia all recorded reduced volumes, to 1,102 tonnes swt, 228 tonnes swt and 1,617 tonnes swt, respectively
- Shipments to the EU almost doubled, at 405 tonnes swt
- Volume to the Middle East accounted for 33% of total exports, although were back 9% year-on-year, at 3,101 tonnes swt
- Mutton to the US more than doubled on year-ago levels, at 996 tonnes swt during the month
