New Zealand lamb exports exceed NZ$2bn
Exports of lamb reduced by 3.6% to 247,000 tonnes for the period from 1 October 2013 to 30 June 2014, while their total value increased 10.5% to NZ$2.06bn FOB, according to Beef + Lamb New Zealand (B+L NZ).
The heaviest decline came in June - down 13% in volumes - with the fall in exports expected to remain until the end of the season, it said. Declines were seen in the European Union markets - down 5.9% - however increases in exports were seen to North Asia, up 2.4%.
This change had a knock-on effect on the allocation of chilled and frozen lamb, with exports of chilled lamb down 6.1% and frozen lamb down 2.8%.
Mutton exports increased by 17.1% to 81,700 tonnes (shipped weight) and in value by 32.1% to NZ$429.9m.
Meanwhile beef and veal exports rose 4.4% in volume, to 312,700 tonnes, and 5.8% in value to NZ$1.85bn. The average value of beef and veal exports was 5.3% higher for North Asia, up 3.9% for South Asia, but down 1.5% for North America.
For mutton, the trade of carcasses to China continued to increase at the expense of higher value cuts, said B+L NZ.
In terms of processing beef exports, the organisation said the average value exported to North America was ahead of the returns seen from the Asian markets.
