There’s no eat-lamb-ophobia in the USA

Livestock | 2nd February 2022 | By Matt Dalgleish

The Snapshot

  • Demand for Aussie lamb during January 2022 from the USA was 35% higher than levels seen in January 2021.
  • Chinese demand for Aussie lamb was 29% higher than the volumes seen last year, but remain 30% below the average levels for January according to the five-year average trend.
  • Lamb export flows to “all other destinations”, excluding USA and China, was 20% above the January 2021 levels but 13% under the seasonal five-year average trend for the start of the year.
  • Total lamb export volumes from Australia saw 17,057 tonnes shipped for January, which is 25% higher than January 2021 but 13% under the five-year average for January.

The Detail

The Department of Agriculture, Water and Environment (DAWE) lamb export statistics for January 2022 show a solid start to the year for demand from the USA with trade volumes coming in 35% higher than in January 2021 at 4,791 tonnes swt. Although it isn’t the highest January volumes on record lamb exports still came in 3% above the five-year average trend for January.

The strong start to the season for the USA, combined with a weaker January for Aussie lamb export flows to China, have seen the US extend their lead as the number one destination for Australian lamb with their market share opening 2022 at 28.1% of total flows compared to China’s 15.7%. Although, with just one month into the season there is plenty of time for China to play some catch-up.

At 2,678 tonnes for January 2022 the Chinese demand for Aussie lamb was 29% higher than the volumes seen last year, but remain 30% below the average levels for January according to the five-year average trend. The lower than average start to the 2022 season for China weighing on total lamb export volumes from Australia with 17,057 tonnes reported shipped for January, 25% higher than January 2021 but 13% under the five-year average for January.

Lamb export flows to “all other destinations”, excluding USA and China also started the year stronger than in 2021. January 2022 saw 9,587 tonnes swt of Aussie lamb sent offshore to these “other destinations”, 20% above the January 2021 levels but 13% under the seasonal five-year average trend for the start of the year.

Tags

  • Lamb
  • Exports
  • Trade