Rock Steady Crewe
Sheep Meat Export Summary September Quarter 2024
Total sheep meat exports from Australia (mutton and lamb, combined) remains firm and has been on a relatively steady trajectory over the September quarter. There was 150,294 tonnes shipped during Q3, 2024 which is the strongest Q3 on record and has beaten the previous record peak for Q3 from last year by 10%.
Compared to the five-year average for the September quarter the current flows are running nearly 44% stronger, a huge result for Australian sheep meat producers and the sheep industry.
A summary of the trade flows to the top sheep meat destinations is as follows.
China – Chinese demand for Aussie sheep meat lifted by 14% from Q2 to Q3 this year. The September quarter volumes lifted to 32,127 tonnes and although this is 21% below the levels shipped to China in Q3, 2023 it is still 3% higher than the five-year average flows for the September quarter.
USA – Sheep meat exports to the USA continue to boom with a 6% gain for the September quarter on the already strong volumes that were sent during Q2, 2024. Q3, 2024 saw 27,343 tonnes exported to the USA from Australia which is the strongest Q3 result on record. This result places the current volumes 27% higher than Q3, 2023 and 33% above the five-year average for Q3 export flows.
The Others – Aussie sheep meat exports to “other destinations” (excluding the USA and China) decreased over the September quarter. There was 90,824 tonnes of sheep meat product shipped out of Australia to the other destinations during the September quarter. Although this was a 9% drop on the Q2 flows from this year it still represents levels that are nearly 72% above the five-year average flows for the September quarter – so it is still a pretty good result overall.
