We don’t need ewe
Market Morsel
February saw total mutton exports hold steady at relatively strong levels with 20,345 tonnes reported shipped from Australia. This represents total mutton export flows that are running about 35% above the five-year average trend for mutton export volumes during February. In recent years we have seen growth in exports to market destinations like Malaysia and Saudi Arabia, but it has come at the expense of a decline in flows to the USA. Indeed, US demand for Aussie lamb has been on the increase while mutton volumes are in a decline.
So far in 2025, China holds the majority share of the mutton trade from Australia on 35%. Malaysia displaced the USA from second place a few years back and they hold nearly 13% of the trade now. This year the USA have been further relegated to fourth spot at nearly 5% of the mutton trade as Saudi Arabia moves into third place with a share of almost 10%.
The two charts below highlights the market share of the USA in relation to Aussie mutton and lamb export flows. From 2015 through to 2022 there was an ongoing mutton battle with Malaysia for second spot and in recent years with Saudi Arabia for third place. So far in 2025 the USA has been clearly defeated. However, as the lamb market share highlights the US have opened up a pretty convincing lead over China since 2023 to dominate top position.
