New Zealand (NZ) mutton exports were back 12% for the year to July compared with the same period in 2009, at 43,745 tonnes (NZ Meat Board). This included a 28% year-on-year fall in July, to 2,629 tonnes, the fifth consecutive monthly year-on-year drop.
The decline in mutton exports may be explained through figures recently released by Beef + Lamb NZ, indicating that hogget retention was up 10% in 2009-10 compared with the previous year. Price expectations are reportedly strong in NZ, and producers are intending to rebuild breeding flocks.
The EU remained NZ's largest mutton market in the year to July in 2010, despite year-on-year exports tumbling 41%, to 13,131 tonnes. Taiwan and South East Asia were the big positive movers, up 62%, to 6,675 tonnes, and 34%, to 5,162 tonnes, respectively. The Middle East also continued to maintain its strong demand growth, up 9%, to 4,270 tonnes.
Source: MLA.com
Back to News Headlines