NZ lamb shipments higher for first half of the season
04 May 2016
Six months into the New Zealand (NZ) production season (October to March), NZ lamb exports increased 6% on the corresponding period the year prior – to165,805 tonnes swt (Statistics NZ).
After the first six months, compared to the year before, exports to:
- China increased 12%, to 51,719 tonnes swt
- the UK increased 5%, to 37,939 tonnes swt
- the US increased 8%, to 10,225 tonnes swt
- Germany increased 3%, to 9,249 tonnes swt
- Saudi Arabia declined 70%, to 2,298 tonnes swt
Highlighted in a recent report by AgriHQ, tighter lamb supplies forecast over the coming months and a lift in global lamb prices in recent weeks have stimulated competition for NZ lamb. Similarly to beef, demand from China has continued to climb, with local buyers reportedly looking to fulfil requirements in anticipation of lower supplies.
For the October to March period, NZ mutton exports increased 2% year-on-year, to 52,579 tonnes swt. After the first six months, shipments to most markets increased, with China and the UK the exceptions – back 11% and 6%, to 28,083 tonnes swt and 4,282 tonnes swt, respectively. Volumes to Taiwan saw substantial growth on the corresponding period the year prior, increasing 52% to 4,558 tonnes swt.
