May 6, 2014

Australia's April lamb exports up 15% on-year

During April, total Australian lamb exports were 15% higher on-year, at an April record 17,758 tonnes shipweight (swt), according to Meat and Livestock Australia (MLA).

Australia's three major markets registered increases on the same period last year, and combined accounted for 63% of total shipments during April. Of Australia's three largest lamb export markets, shipments to China - the largest single export destination - increased 32% on-year, to 3,098 tonnes swt, accounting for 17% of total lamb exports.

Despite recording the lowest volumes since the beginning of the year and being piped by China as the largest single export destination by volume, exports to the US in April also accounted for 17% of Australian lamb exports and were 2% higher than the corresponding period last year, at 3097 tonnes swt.

Buoyed by large volumes to Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates, at 1,167 tonnes swt and 1,476 tonnes swt, respectively, exports to the Middle East accounted for 28% of total Australian lamb exports. Shipments to the Middle East registered the highest monthly volume since the beginning of the year, at 5,056 tonnes swt, up 5% on-year.

Supported by strong demand from the UK, shipments to the EU continued the elevated trend so far in 2014, up 63%, or 453 tonnes on-year, at 1,173 tonnes swt - the second highest April exports on record.

The largest export growth during April was reported for Korea, Taiwan, and Hong Kong, up 110%, 115% and more than four-fold on-year, to 488 tonnes swt, 386 tonnes swt, and 689 tonnes swt, respectively. Similarly, Japan has returned this year as a significant export market, with shipments up 25% on the corresponding period last year, at 810 tonnes swt - the second largest export market in Asia after China.