Strong start to the year for red meat exports
"The sector experienced solid demand across all major markets, contributing to a significant uplift in export value", says MIA Chief Executive Sirma Karapeeva.
"This reflects both the ongoing recovery in global demand and the ability of New Zealand’s red meat sector to adapt to shifting market dynamics.
The US led the way, with exports increasing 64 per cent year-on-year, followed by China (up 10 per cent), the UK (up 58 per cent), and Canada (up 89 per cent).
The US was the largest market for the month, accounting for $277 million in exports, just ahead of China at $276 million. The UK accounted for $60 million, Canada $41 million, and the Netherlands saw a nine per cent increase to $33 million.
“The US is a strategically important market for our beef exports and a growing high value market for our lamb exports, says Ms Karapeeva.
"New Zealand is a complementary trading partner, being an important source of lean beef that is mixed with US domestic grain-fed beef to produce burger patties. It is also becoming an important sheepmeat market for high value premium cuts".
Sheepmeat
Sheepmeat export volumes remained steady at 35,220 tonnes compared to last January. A decline in exports to the EU (down 20 per cent to 4,775 tonnes) and the US (down 24 per cent to 1,692 tonnes) was offset by increased shipments to China (up 7 per cent to 19,436 tonnes), the UK (up 9 per cent to 3,769 tonnes), and Malaysia (up 107 per cent to 1,140 tonnes).
Despite stable volumes, the value of sheepmeat exports rose 22 per cent to $359 million, largely driven by a 44 per cent increase in exports to China ($134 million) and a 53 per cent increase to the UK ($50 million). Canada and Malaysia also saw value growth.
This more than compensated for a slight decline in export value to the EU (down 1 per cent to $80 million) and the US (down 10 per cent to $37 million).
Beef
Beef exports rose by 6 per cent in volume to 38,788 tonnes and 36 per cent in value to $409 million. While exports to China were down 14 per cent by volume and 4 per cent by value, strong growth in North America helped drive overall gains.
"In the US, beef production remains steady, but demand for imported lean beef has increased due to lower domestic cow production", says Ms Karapeeva.
Beef exports to the US rose 24 per cent in volume to 16,743 tonnes, while value surged 73 per cent to $194 million. Exports to Canada also increased significantly, up 56 per cent in volume (2,499 tonnes) and 121 per cent in value ($28 million).
Results in North Asian markets outside China were mixed. Exports to Japan declined compared to last January, while Taiwan remained steady. However, there was a strong recovery in exports to Korea, up 37 per cent by volume and 66 per cent by value.
Fifth quarter exports increased 22 per cent to $159 million, driven by a sharp rise in tallow exports to the US, which contributed to a 184 per cent increase in overall fifth quarter exports to the market ($47 million).
Tallow was the most valuable fifth quarter export in January at $34 million, followed by casings and tripe ($30 million) and edible offals ($26 million). The US was the largest market for tallow, while most casings and tripe were exported to China. Edible offals were shipped to multiple markets, including the US, China, Japan, and the UK.
In 2024 alone, 199 environmental regularization projects were carried out, which contributed to t...
Doly-Com Distribution, one of the main meat processors in Romania increased its meat production b...
Domestic beef production in 2025 is projected to decline slightly from 7.79 million tons in 2024 ...
