Due to its versatile nature, long shelf life and appeal to traditional and modern food sectors, frozen lamb meat is becoming a global commodity across various markets. Today exporters are faced with analyzing global buyer profiles, and the flow of markets for frozen lamb meat, quality lamb meat, and lamb meat in bulk, to ensure optimal placement for sales and strategic development. Knowing “who buys what, where and in what format” is key for exporters, so they can adjust their product offerings, approaches to marketing their certifications, and build sustainable trading relationships.

Global Import Map: Frozen Lamb Meat in Numbers

The international frozen lamb market is defined by a mix of high-volume and high-value importers distributed across continents, each with unique consumption patterns and supplier preferences.

Major Global Buyers: By Value and Volume

• European Union: The EU is now the largest market for Australian lamb on the planet, with imports of frozen boned meat of sheep at ~ $169 million (~15.1 million kg) in 2023, with purchases by supermarkets and the hospitality sector both driving demand.
• China: Based on Australia’s record freezing period, China is now moving into the #2 position as the second largest market for Australian lamb, with frozen boned lamb imported at $151 million (35.3 million kg) and frozen carcasses/half carcasses at $48.8 million (11.1 million kg), with demand driven by hotpot, BBQ, and modern retailing.
• USA: U.S. buyers imported a total of $118 million (16.2 million kg) of boned lamb meat in the U.S. in 2023, which includes $24.8 million (3.76 million kg) in frozen carcasses, which indicates opportunities to export a range of sheep meat export items and mutton export items.
• Germany, U.A.E and Malaysia: Next tier markets, which each imported in the millions USD, include Germany and U.A.E, with Malaysia also steadily building in value driven by Halal and convenience consumer needs.

Big takeaways for exporters – the EU and China represent powerhouse destination markets for both bulk lamb meat and higher value/specialty lamb meat value-added cuts, while the U.S. has strong volume demand for premium and portion-ready products. U.A.E, Malaysia and Germany are growing, particularly for Halal and specialty formats.

Market Spotlight: Top Buyers by Format & Quality

Global importers have explicit and consistent preferences for lamb meat attributes and formats, to the benefit of suppliers of high quality and premium lamb meat.

By Import Format: Shipment Counts and Trends

• United States: (9,607 shipments; ~61% of frozen lamb imports Nov 2023 – Oct 2024) by far the world’s leader in imports – signals a preference for segmented, ready-to-portion bulk and retail cuts.
• Vietnam & Philippines: Rapidly expanding – Vietnam (1,294 shipments, 8% of imported lamb); Philippines (1,053 shipments, 7% of imported lamb) rapidly growing the retail and HORECA sectors in Southeast Asia
• China, France, UK, Malaysia, UAE, Germany, Saudi Arabia: All are experiencing strong demand growth; particularly in the case of China who now represents 28% of the total global lamb/sheep meat imports (~361k metric tons; based on latest reporting available for annual trade).

Preference Details

• North America, EU, UK: There is strong demand for boneless, vacuum-packed, and premium-certified lamb, particularly by supermarkets and foodservice channels that emphasize operational efficiency and food safety.
• ASEAN/Asia: Vietnam, Malaysia, and Philippines have an increasing demand for both standardized and traditional bulk formats, supported by reliable, Halal-certified suppliers.
• Middle East: Growth markets such as the UAE and Saudi Arabia place a premium on size and authenticity (Halal, traceability).
• China: Large-scale buyers ask for both carcass and boneless cuts, purchase flexibility and food safety are critical.

Export Strategy: Packaging & Positioning for Target Markets

The ability to adapt the presentation of product and logistical needs based on the requirements of global distributors allows suppliers to create niches and build loyalty in competitive markets.

Matching Format and Packaging to Buyer Expectations

• Boneless Vacuum-Packed Cuts: Are well sought in North America and the EU as there are strict hygiene, traceability and shelf life regulations. Vacuum packed lamb can command a premium price and it gets good interest from high-end retail and institutional buyers.
• Carcasses & Half-Carcasses: Preferred for China, UAE and many other markets where traditional consumption patterns exist, creating the opportunity for in-market butchering and fresh preparation. Exporters can position their product offering by exporting frozen lamb meat in bulk or flash frozen, vacuum sealed packaged smaller portions for distribution to retail.
• Bulk and Retail-Ready Solutions: Wholesalers, supermarket chains and foodservice distributors want both full container load flexibility and retail package products. With aim to preserve premium of quality throughout the refrigerated chain of commerce from labeling, (Halal, CE mark etc), logistics and transit storage methods.
• Competitive Landscape: Who’s Losing Ground? Existing exporters and new entrants constantly reshaping the balance between risk and opportunity.

Leading & Emerging Exporters

• Australia & New Zealand: Still leading in the frozen lamb meat global supply in value and shipments—Australia exported over $2.1B in frozen sheep meat in 2024, an increase of 25.5% from 2020; New Zealand was at $1.77B, but had a decrease of 12.4%.
• Netherlands, Mongolia, Uruguay: Explosive growth: Netherlands up 57.8%, Mongolia up a jaw dropping 7,700%. As a supplier, the activity is leveraging geographic proximity and/or trade policy response alone, good opportunity for suppliers.
• Saudi Arabia: Explosive year: steady growth as imports jumped by 2,605% to $26.5M, it supports part of the opportunity for organizations focusing on Middle East growth strategies.

Markets in Transition

• • Spain, Ireland, Uruguay: Showed a significant decline in volume/value declines which suggest they were vulnerable or were adjusting demand profiles.
  • Fresh/Chilled Category Growth: France and UK (chilled and fresh sheep meat), Spain (branded premium cuts), Pakistan (Halal) have all significantly increased their exports as they try to move up-market.

Profitable opportunities exist for exporters who are able to supply wholesale lamb meat and lamb meat export in traditional and new value-added ways.

Conclusion

Successful lamb marketing in the interconnected world of lamb trade relies on matching premium frozen lamb meat with the market demands, formats, and price elasticities in each of the key import market:

• The leading importers (USA, China, Vietnam, Philippines, UAE, and EU) who account for the volume and innovation provided the demand.
• Adapting the products sold on a Multi-market basis by having boneless vacuum packet cuts for Retailers, and exported carcasses for traditional buyers ensures maximum reach and value.
• Supply chain, certifications, and readiness for consumer demand – like food safe, Halal safe, and responsive logistics, help identify potential exporters versus successful exporters.
• Adopting emerging or shifting markets – Look for emerging demand in the Middle East, South East Asia and South America as well as different approaches with legacy suppliers.
• Data Based Planning – Understand what the global customs statistics and shipment analytics say to help exporters target the appropriate supply, format, and certification to the realities of the market.

Exporters whose ambitions include creating opportunities to sell more lamb to the USA, China, Vietnam and beyond, with the right market positioning for format, packaging and premium quality, should develop a working relationship with a strategic supplier now. BR Global Trade has a history of leveraging market knowledge, certification knowledge and shipping flexibility to respond to the changing world requirements in supply for the world’s top consumers of frozen lamb।