AHDB: Lamb imports fall away after Easter
New Zealand continues to supply the majority (58%) of the UK’s lamb imports, sitting at 2,900 tonnes for April. Volumes imported from New Zealand have fallen nearly 2,200 tonnes from March, as their production has declined, and the domestic demand has softened following Easter. Most of this decline came from a fall in frozen sheep legs, which fell by 1,700 tonnes from March to 760 tonnes in April. In the year to date (Jan-Apr), imports from New Zealand have totalled 13,400 tonnes, which is growth of 5,200 tonnes from last year. New Zealand production and export capacity was impacted by Cyclone Gabrielle in 2023, reducing their exports. When comparing year to date imports with a more typical year such as 2022, imports from New Zealand have only grown by 800 tonnes.
Sheep meat imports from Australia remain elevated compared to 2023, with April’s levels sitting at just over 1,000 tonnes. This was a decline of 85 tonnes from March, but 260 tonnes higher than the same time in 2023.
UK fresh and frozen sheep meat exports totalled 5,500 tonnes in April, which is a decline of around 1,700 tonnes from both March 2024, and April last year. This decline can be partially attributed to tighter domestic production, which limits the capacity to export. Similarly, record-high domestic lamb prices may be impacting on exporting decisions, given that we have seen the differential to France fall away.
A decline in the volume of lamb carcasses exported has driven the majority of this fall from March, sitting 1,100 tonnes lower at 4,300 tonnes for April. Bone-in fresh cuts also saw a decline on the month of around 480 tonnes, to 600 tonnes. However, March volumes of this product have been elevated in both 2023 and 2024.
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