Sheepmeat exports bounce back while US demand sinks
September sheepmeat exports recovered to 36,193 tonnes, with China up 20% year-on-year but US demand down 41%.
Australian sheepmeat exports rebounded in September after soft volumes through July and August, reaching 36,193 tonnes. The recovery came mainly from China, where shipments climbed 20 per cent above September last year to 8,616 tonnes.
However, Chinese shipments remain 27 per cent below the five-year average, suggesting demand is still below historical norms. The picture darkened in the US, Australia's second-largest market by volume.
US imports fell 41 per cent from last year and 33 per cent below the five-year average. The weakness persisted across August and September, signalling a sustained dip rather than a single soft month.
Outside the two biggest individual markets, the broader export base held steady, with shipments slightly above average.
- 36,193 tonnes
- September exports
- 22.4 per cent
- China's share of 2026 exports
- 41 per cent year-on-year
- US import decline
Why it mattersSpring lamb supplies are rising, and sustained US weakness could leave Australia struggling to place additional product if demand does not recover.
AustraliaAustralian farmers face an uneven export market as they move into the busy spring selling season, with China rebounding but the crucial US market softening.
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