Market Morsel: Back in action

Livestock | 25th October 2021 | By Matt Dalgleish

Market Morsel

September marks the end of the northern hemisphere summer live sheep export moratorium with 58,760 head of sheep transported from Australia. Volumes mirroring the levels seen in the last two September returns to the trade with 54,412 seen in 2020 and 59,354 noted for 2019.

The five-year average volume for September sits at around 77,500 which signals the trade remains subdued with current export levels running 24% under the seasonal average pattern for this month in the year.

Trade Summary (Key Destinations)

  • Kuwait remains the primary destination for Aussie live export sheep with approximately 60% of the sheep exported from Australia in 2021 making their way to Kuwaiti consumers. September saw 44,431 head of Aussie sheep transported to Kuwait, this represents levels that are 63% above the five-year September average.
  • The United Arab Emirates (UAE) took 7,174 head of Australian sheep during September, less than half the flows seen in September 2020 and 2019. Compared to the five-year seasonal average for September, current volumes are running 28% under the trend for this month in the season.
  • Jordan have taken their first shipments of Aussie sheep since February with 7,150 head transported during September. Jordanian flows are 68% above the September seasonal average, but there is a bit of catching up to do if Jordanian flows are to hit the market share we have seen in recent years. In 2019 and 2020 Australia transported around 16% of their total sheep exports to Jordan. However, the 2021 market share has slumped to just 8.5% of total flows, so far.

Tags

  • Live Sheep
  • Live export
  • Sheep