New Zealand lamb imports delayed due to shipping issues

The upheaval of supply chains during the COVID crisis had a noticeable effect: perishable refrigerated goods were considered much riskier to transport than their frozen counterparts.

While the complications directly related to the pandemic have subsided, persistent problems with shipping routes continue to plague the chilled lamb market. Notably, the unrest in the Gulf of Aden is a reminder of the heightened risks associated with such shipments. The cost of insurance for Red Sea voyages has skyrocketed, increasing to nearly 20 times the normal rates.

New Zealand shipped around 5,700 tonnes of chilled lamb to the UK in 2022 and 2023. This year, only 1,845 tonnes have been shipped through February, down significantly from the 18,000 tonnes of chilled lamb shipped in 2020.

Before the pandemic, more than 40% of chilled produce shipped to the UK came from New Zealand, with the figure rising to 14-18% in recent years.