May 14, 2005

Increase in Australian mutton exports during April

Australian mutton exports during April jumped 14% to 11,330 tonnes compared to last year. This was largely due to lower sale-yard prices for Australian sheep which was 13 percent lower than in the same month last year, at 152 A¢/kg

The main increases in shipments during April were to South Africa and the EU. Exports to South Africa for the month jump 34%, to 1,037 tonnes. Exports to the EU almost doubled last year's levels to reach 845 tonnes, largely due to a higher proportion of mutton being used to fill the EU sheep-meat quota.

In contrast, Australian mutton exports to the Middle East decreased 7 percent on last year to 2,480 tonnes with a 12 percent drop in exports to Saudi Arabia. Similarly, mutton shipments to Taiwan during April were down to 719 tonnes, a decrease of 19 percent.