How much lamb does Australia produce and export?
Australia is the 3rd largest producer of lamb: 927,230 tonnes in 2024, 8% of the world's 11.5 million tonnes (FAOSTAT). It is the largest exporter by value: $3.8 billion in 2024, 42% of world exports of sheep and goat meat (HS 0204) (CEPII BACI). Its biggest customer is the United States, which takes 29% of its lamb exports by value.
All about lamb · All about Australia · Lamb price history
Australia's lamb production
| World rank | Production (tonnes) | Share of world | Ten-year growth | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 927,230 tonnes | 8% | +2.6% a year | 2024 |
FAOSTAT Crops and livestock products (QCL), 2024. World total is the sum of reporting countries.
Share of world output over time
| 1990 | 2000 | 2010 | 2020 | 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9.2% | 9.4% | 6.7% | 6.2% | 8% |
Australia's lamb exports
| World rank | Export value | Share of world exports | Quantity (tonnes) | Average value per tonne | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $3.8 billion | 42% | 700,074 t | $5,428 | 2024 |
CEPII BACI international trade database (HS22, V202601), HS 0204 (Meat of sheep or goats, fresh, chilled or frozen).
Where Australia's lamb goes
| Destination | Value | Share of Australia's exports |
|---|---|---|
| United States | $1.1B | 29% |
| China | $601M | 16% |
| United Arab Emirates | $220M | 5.8% |
| South Korea | $200M | 5.3% |
| Malaysia | $170M | 4.5% |
How much lamb Australia uses
Australia's domestic supply of lamb was 279 thousand tonnes in 2023, 1.6% of the world's. Food supply was 11 kg per person a year, 8th highest of 143 countries with a million or more people. It produced 317% of what it used (self-sufficiency) and imported 0%. FAO's item is "Mutton and goat meat". Consumption · Self-sufficiency.
The lamb price Australia sells into
The benchmark price, New Zealand, frozen carcass, wholesale London, was $7.26/kg in September 2026, up 16% over twelve months. Its five-year volatility is 16% a year, calmer in 67% of its earlier five-year windows. A single country's export price can differ from the benchmark: see trade price against benchmark. Monthly averages lag the market and are not investment advice. Lamb price history.
Cite as: Commodity Origins, "Australia lamb: production, exports and prices", https://commodityorigins.com/countries/AUS/lamb/ (CC BY 4.0). Rankings count only countries reporting to the sources named; this page is shown only for top-five producers or exporters with at least 3% of the world total. Report an issue with this page.