Australia outpaces New Zealand lamb production
Industry promotional body Meat and Livestock Australia (MLA) have reported that the production of lamb in Australia is now higher than that of New Zealand.
In recent years, Australia has surpassed New Zealand in lamb production due to changes in agricultural practices. Since September 2022, the gap between the two countries has widened further, with Australian slaughter volumes increasing by 39% while New Zealand's volumes have slightly decreased. This shift is reflective of changes in land use and the expansion of New Zealand's dairy cattle herd. With lower slaughter in New Zealand, there is relatively less lamb supply on the global market for Australian exporters to compete with.
Between 2013 and 2023, New Zealand's lamb slaughter fell by 14% while Australian lamb slaughter volumes increased by 12%. Australian lamb carcass weights have increased faster, reflecting more efficient production.
Australia exports more to the US and the Middle East while New Zealand exports more to the UK and EU.
