WELLINGTON: Australia and New Zealand are set to fill their quotas for sheepmeat exports to the EU in 2016, according to a recent report from Meat and Livestock Australia.
According to the MLA’s Market information and Industry insights report, it expects total exports of lamb and mutton to the EU to remain steady in 2016. It also says that this quota arrangement will prevent any growth in the export sector with the tight Australian and New Zealand supply forecast for 2016 helping to maintain prices.
However, despite this decline, it says, that New Zealand still has a distinctive advantage within the EU market as it accounts for 80% (228,254t) of the total exports to the EU.
The report also indicates that sheepmeat production is also set to increase in the UK in 2016, with early indications suggesting that total production will reach 313,200t as a result of a larger breeding flock.
In 2015, it says that Australian exports to the EU have remained similar to previous years. However, New Zealand quota usage has fallen short for the third consecutive year with it only filling 70% on average between 2013 to 2015.
