In 2023, Australia exceeded the accomplishment of exporting more than 50% of the world’s sheep meat exports, a landmark that has altered the trade flows in the international red meat sector. Historically, Australia and New Zealand supplied the majority of the world’s lamb meat exports, together accounting for over 80% of the volumes. However, when New Zealand’s flock sizes dramatically decreased, and Australia was able to increase their productivity, the competition became inevitable.

 

Today, Australia’s frozen lamb meat, chilled lamb meat, and premium grass-fed lamb export programs have made Australia the world’s top supplier on a volume and value basis over their trans-Tasman neighbour. For global customers, importers, distributors, foodservice chains, and supermarkets, knowing this information is vital to ensuring they make well-informed supply decisions for sourcing lamb meat, in the rapidly evolving protein market.

 

Shared Dominance in Global Sheep Meat Export

In the last few decades, Australia and New Zealand have dominated the sheep meat export market, exporting more than 80% of the available supply combined. New Zealand’s lamb had a strong presence in high-value European and North American markets, while Australia has managed to diversify their markets into Asia and the Middle East (MLA Projections Report – 2025).

 

Decline of New Zealand’s Flock

The gap widened due to structural changes in agricultural policies in New Zealand:

• Sheep numbers have fallen from ~70 million in the 1980s to about 25 million by 2024 – just four sheep per person (The Times).
• Land use has shifted to dairy (better margins), forestry, and carbon farming.
• Wool prices further discouraged sheep farming.

This decline restricted New Zealand’s potential to ramp up bulk lamb meat exports, while Australian farmers were investing in bigger scale production systems.

 

Australia’s Export Breakthrough in 2023

According to MLA Corporate, Australia during 2023:

• Supplied over 50% of world exports of lamb and mutton export products.
• Exported a record volume to China, the US, India and the Middle East.
• Captured 71% of the increment in Chinese lamb imports and raised its share of the China market to 46% while New Zealand experienced a decline.

 

India Segment
Australia also surpassed New Zealand as the largest frozen lamb meat exporter to India in 2024 and increased the volume to India by 85% annually (Sheep Central).

Drivers of Australia’s Advantage

Export Volume & Value Surge

• Australia exported 702,000 MT of sheep meat in 2024 valued at US $3.6 billion (Reuters).
• Average heavy lamb prices increased by 50% year-on-year to A$11/kg demonstrating a level of price resilience in a broadening context of volume.

Productivity Gains

• In the past decade slaughter volumes have increased by +14%.
• Average carcass weights have increased to 24.6 kg per head versus New Zealand’s ~19.5 kg (Farming Ahead).
• The efficiency gained from farm to slaughter is reflected in greater consistency in wholesale lamb meat supply.

 

Diversification of Product Range

Australia now consistently exports:

• Frozen lamb meat for bulk buyers in China, the Middle East, and Africa.
• Chilled lamb meat for higher-end buyers in Europe and North America.
• Vacuum packed lamb cuts for foodservice and retail chains in Asia.
• Grass-fed lamb exports for more premium agricultural market segments.

This flexibility has helped bolster Australia’s reputation for both bulk lamb meat and specialty, premium lamb meat supply.

 

New Zealand’s Supply Challenges

Although New Zealand is often closely associated with lamb at the global level, there are considerable constraints:

• Declining livestock numbers due to declines for the past 12 years.
• Land being taken for other farming ventures that provide better financial returns.
• The policy focuses on premium quality markets for lamb meat such as Europe and North America.
• Notably, NZ lamb export trade is in overall decline for bulk lamb meat, as the emphasis in NZ is on premium agricultural export niches, which supply revenue over scale (AHDB Outlook 2025).

Consequently, for B2B buyers who are looking for frozen lamb meat and wholesale lamb meat in high volumes, it is not a surprise that NZ is likely more unstable than Australia.

 

Winners & Emerging Opportunities

Australia as Global Leader

Australia is now the world’s premium lamb meat exporter. Proven performance in sheep meat export, both in bulk and niche markets. Government data confirms Australia is the world’s top supplier by volume and value (Agriculture & Fisheries Department of Australia).

India Market

• 85% growth in exports to India in 2024, now the largest frozen lamb meat exporter to India, ahead of New Zealand (Sheep Central).
• Strong demand for both mutton export (older sheep) and premium lamb meat categories from Indian HoReCA & retailers.

Other Emerging Markets

• Middle East: Oman, UAE, and Saudi continuing to show increasing demand.
• Africa: Nigeria and South Africa increasingly importing frozen lamb meat as affordable protein substitutes.

Implications & Strategic Outlook

Market Diversification

Australia’s phenomenal global rise has not been reliant solely upon China’s growth, but spreading risk across India, U.S, Middle East and Africa. Over-reliance on a specific buyer is avoided.

Domestic Strength

Australia’s efficient domestic supply chains and substituting in regional buying, inducement of top processing establishments, and innovation of vacuum packed and newly-developed lamb products all enhance reliability for global buyers.

Policy Tailwinds

Free trade and tariff elimination agreements like AI-ECTA with India, leave Australian exporters significantly better off than written-off competitors. (Sheep Central).

For professional buyers, Australia’s pre-emptive monopoly over the source of lamb meat allows sufficient capacity to supply bulk lamb meat, guarantee deliveries of premium quality cuts in a tense supply chain situation, and guarantees access to chilled lamb meat stewardship practices are regulated.

 

Final Thoughts

Australia’s acquisition of over 50% of the global lamb trade reflects continued production efficiency, strong local systems, competitive pricing, and the reduction of supply base in New Zealand. Where Australia has expanded investment to provide quality consistency in frozen lamb meat, chilled lamb meat, and grass-fed lamb export, along with reliable evidence of production, Australia will always have an underlying anchor to accentuate, globally.

The message for global buyers is simple “If it’s from Australia, you have the opportunity of continuous lamb meat supply on a wholesale basis, balanced with premium lamb meat to supply higher-value markets.” In conjunction with a strong supply-chain network and future policy advantages framed by vision, it seems logical, given its strategic advantage, that Australia will not only retain, but build on the differential advantage in supplying quality sheep meat export to the world.