Australia-Mutton exports.

AUSTRALIA-MUTTON EXPORTS.

Australian mutton exports during 2008 lifted 5% year-on-year, to 158,000 tonnes swt, supported by a 1% increase in mutton production during the year and driven by strong demand from the Middle East. Over the past 14 years, the average unit value of Australian mutton exports has increase 45%, to A$3.03/kg.

As enterprise shifts have progressed and drought persisted across some regions, producers have continued to cull wether flocks and older breeding ewes. As a result, mutton slaughter and production has been sustained at reasonably high levels.