Australia expects record high lamb exports by end of 2023

North America was the largest lamb export market for the month with 7,142 tonnes. Exports to the US actually fell 20% YoY to 5,641 tonnes, but exports to Canada rose 46% YoY to 1,400 tonnes. Without increased Canadian imports, China would be the largest market. Lamb meat shipments to mainland China rose 14% year-on-year to 6,038 tonnes.

China remained the largest lamb market, with exports up 57% YoY to 10,195 tonnes in October. The second largest market was the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, where exports increased 166% year-on-year to 3,697 tonnes. This was largely driven by exports to Saudi Arabia, which increased 255% YoY to 1,261 tonnes, but lamb exports to all major markets in the region were up at least 100% compared to October last year.

Good export volumes and increasing diversification of export markets suggest Australia is well positioned to benefit from the increase in supply that the MLA forecast in its June sheep forecasts. Lamb exports are already higher than in the 2022 calendar year, and we are likely to see record high lamb exports by the end of 2023.