Subscribe to The Weekly e-newsletter
For in-depth red meat market news, information and analysis.
Slowdown in October lamb exports to the US
19 November 2015
Australia exported 4,596 tonnes shipped weight (swt) of lamb to the US during October – an 11% drop on last year. Coincidentally, this was also the same decline in Australia’s global lamb exports for October, a result of slightly lower lamb slaughter through late September and early October.
Exports, as reported by the Department of Agriculture, showed a decline in shipments of most major categories, including:
- Chilled and frozen leg
- Chilled and frozen rack
- Chilled and frozen shoulder
- Chilled shortloin
- Frozen shank
There was, however, an increase in the trade of what is recorded as chilled “assorted cuts”, which is when three or more primals are packaged together. This category increased 34%, to 1,365 tonnes swt, and likely offset some of the declines in the other chilled cuts.
From January to October, Australia exported 39,918 tonnes swt of lamb to the US – 3% more than the same period last year. The value of lamb exports rose 33% for January to September, to $418 million FOB.
