New Zealand (NZ) lamb production has fallen again to the lowest level in over 60 years to 23.7m for the current lambing season, according to Beef and Lamb New Zealand.This comes on the back of declines last season, when 24m lambs were born, and the previous year when 25.58m lambs were born. This is a dramatic fall from an industry peak in the early 1980s, when the country had 70m sheep, and as recently as a decade ago the number was 39m. Widespread switch to dairy production has led to a decline in the sheep industry.
New Zealand (NZ) lamb production has fallen again to the lowest level in over 60 years to 23.7m for the current lambing season, according to Beef and Lamb New Zealand.
This comes on the back of declines last season, when 24m lambs were born, and the previous year when 25.58m lambs were born. This is a dramatic fall from an industry peak in the early 1980s, when the country had 70m sheep, and as recently as a decade ago the number was 39m. Widespread switch to dairy production has led to a decline in the sheep industry.
Still the second largest exporter
Despite this, NZ is the second largest exporter of sheep meat in the world after Australia. The EU is its main market, taking 7,200t in the 2015/2016 season, though this is expected to fall to just over 6,000t in the 2016/2017 season. Asia is the next most important market, taking 5,500t in the 2015/2016 season, though with declining births this is also expected to fall in the 
2016/2017 season to 5,500t. The US and Canada market, at just over 2,000t in the 2015/2016 season, is expected to grow slightly in the current season, as is the Middle East market – which is expected to grow from just over 1,000t in the current year to almost 2,000t next year.
New Zealand and Australia are the main global exporters of sheepmeat, accounting for over two thirds of all exports between them. A long way back, the UK is in third place, accounting for 8% of lamb traded internationally. Ireland is next on 4%, with 47,000t exported in 2015 worth €230m.
NZ beef exports falling
New Zealand beef exports are also falling this year. The US and Canada, which took almost 8,000t last year are down to 7,500t for the year ending 31 October 2016. It is similar in Asia, where China is now the main outlet – with volumes back 1,200t year on year to under 7,000t. Pacific and Middle Eastern markets are also down year-on-year, though the southern Asian market has increased to almost 2,000t for the year ending 31 October.
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