Lamb on trend
Market Morsel
The trend pattern for 2025 of Australian lamb exports is closely mirroring the 2024 path, but it is only two months into the new season. February 2025 saw 31,977 tonnes shipped, a marginal 1.5% ahead of the February 2024 levels. However, compared to the five-year average pattern the current flows are running 33% higher.
Lamb exports to the USA contribute 26% of the total flows seen so far in 2025, followed by exports to China at around 16%. Growth in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) over recent years has seen them begin to close in on China’s second place, sitting in third place on around 8% of the trade. A free trade agreement with the UAE is expected to come into force in 2025 so it will be interesting to see how much this can provide a boost to the existing demand.
In terms of the top trade destinations for Australian lamb exports, the following was noted.
USA – There was 8,621 tonnes of Aussie lamb shipped to the USA in February, which is a new February record volume. This is coming off the back of a record volume set in January 2025 too. The current February flows to the US came in nearly 15% higher than the previous February and last year was the prior record holder for February lamb export volumes from Australia. Compared to the five-year average trend for February current trade volumes are running 43% stronger.
China – Meanwhile, the lamb export trade to China was 10% stronger during this February than February last year. There was 5,739 tonnes reported shipped over the month, which represents volumes that are 24% above the February average flows, based on the last five years of the trade.
The others – Trade volumes to the other destinations (excluding USA and China) were above average, but lower than this time last year. There was 17,617 tonnes shipped to the remaining offshore destinations during February 2025 – a 4% decline on the February 2024 flows. Compared to the five-year average for February the flows to the “others” came in nearly 32% stronger.
