World: How much Southern Hemisphere lamb did we import in 2023?

Published 2024년 3월 1일

Tridge summary

In 2023, the UK experienced a surge in sheep meat imports from Australia due to increased production, falling prices, and a free trade agreement. Conversely, imports from New Zealand dropped by 19% due to a shrinking sheep population and shifting export destinations. The import levels in the UK are influenced by trade with China, the Middle East, and the US. The most significant decrease was in frozen sheep legs from New Zealand, while fresh/chilled sheep legs were the only category to see growth. Australian lamb slaughter is projected to rise slightly in 2024, but production may decrease in the latter half of the year due to high slaughter numbers in 2023.

Disclaimer:The above summary was generated by Tridge's proprietary AI model for informational purposes.

Original content

Southern Hemisphere trade into the UK has seen an interesting 2023, as both trade deals with Australia and New Zealand commenced from the end of May. New Zealand and Australia provide the UK with the majority of its sheep meat imports. Historically, imports from New Zealand have dominated trade, but are battling a structurally declining sheep flock and changing export destinations. Australia has seen higher production levels through 2023, consequently pressuring prices and causing them to fall. This has increased their international competitiveness, coupled with the free trade agreement and a weaker-than-expected Asian demand, it has boosted imports from Australia into the UK for 2023. Levels of imports into the UK hinge on trade with China, the Middle East, and the United States, as the main destinations for Australia and New Zealand. Events such as Chinese New Year and Ramadan drive demand for both country’s product, and if these events witness lower than expected demand then ...

Source: Ahdb