International sales of exported sheep and lamb meat totaled US$9.1 billion in 2024, a revenue increase of 27.3% for all sheep and lamb meat shippers over the five-year period starting from $7.1 billion in 2020.

Year over year, the overall value of exported meat pertinent to sheep and lambs advanced by 8.2% compared to $8.4 billion for 2023.

In this article, the term lamb refers to the meat from younger sheep. Specifically, they are classified as being one year old or less.

Drilling down to more detailed product types, the most valuable form of exported sheep and lamb meat were frozen cuts of sheep including bones at 34.8% of the overall total. In second place were exported fresh or chilled lamb carcasses and half-carcasses (22.9%) ahead of fresh or chilled cuts of sheep meat including bones (15.6%) then frozen boneless cuts of sheep meat (11.3%).

Smaller percentages are attributed to fresh or chilled boneless cuts of sheep meat (6.3%), fresh or chilled sheep carcasses and half-carcasses (4.9%) excluding lambs, fresh, chilled or frozen goat meat (4.7%), frozen sheep carcasses and half-carcasses (2.8%) excluding lambs, then frozen lamb carcasses and half-carcasses (1.3%).

For research purposes, the 6-digit Harmonized Tariff System code prefixes are: 020410 for fresh or chilled lamb carcasses and half-carcasses; 020421 for fresh or chilled sheep carcasses and half-carcasses; 020422 for fresh or chilled cuts of sheep meat with bone; 020423 for fresh or chilled boneless cuts of sheep meat; 020430 for frozen lamb carcasses and half-carcasses; 020441 for frozen sheep carcasses and half-carcasses; 020442 for frozen cuts of sheep with bone; and 020443 for frozen boneless cuts of sheep meat.

Top Sheep and Lamb Meat Exports by Country

Below are the 10 countries that exported the overall highest dollar value worth of sheep and lamb meat during 2024.

1. Australia: US$3.6 billion (up 36% from 2020)
2. New Zealand: $2.2v (down -14.1%)
3. United Kingdom: $744.9 million (up 32.5%)
4. France: $417.8 million (up 780.2%)
5. Ireland: $410.7 million (up 5.2%)
6. Netherlands: $336.8 million (up 74.2%)
7. Spain: $321.3 million (up 55.1%)
8. Belgium: $132.5 million (up 42.5%)
9. Kenya: $41.3 million (up 422.2%)
10. Mongolia: $85.7 million (up 3,813%)

By value, the listed 10 countries shipped 90.7% of all exported sheep and lamb meat in 2024.

Among the above countries, the fastest-growing exporters of sheep and lamb meat since 2020 are Mongolia (up 3,813%), France (up 780.2%) then Kenya (up 422.2%).

The lone decliner from 2020 to 2024 was New Zealand thanks to its -14.1% reduction.

Top Exporters of Frozen Sheep Meat

The following 10 countries sold the greatest amount of frozen sheep meat on global markets during 2024 by dollar value.

1. Australia: US$2.1 billion (up 25.5% from 2020)
2. New Zealand: $1.77 billion (down -12.4%)
3. Netherlands: $171.3 million (up 57.8%)
4. Mongolia: $79.4 million (up 7,700%)
5. Uruguay: $60.2 million (down -17.7%)
6. Germany: $55.6 million (up 84%)
7. Spain: $53.4 million (down -31.9%)
8. Ireland: $40.5 million (down -30.4%)
9. Chile: $32.3 million (down -10.2%)
10. Saudi Arabia: $26.5 million (up 2,605%)

By value, the listed 10 countries shipped 96% of exports of frozen sheep meat in 2024.

Overall, international sales of frozen sheep meat rose 7.2% since 2020 but flatlined via a -0.5% slowdown from 2023 to 2024.

Among the above countries, the fastest-growing exporters of frozen sheep meat since 2020 were Mongolia (up 7,700%), Saudi Arabia (up 2,605%) then Germany (up 84%).

There severest top decliners over the 5-year period were the Spain (down -31.9% from 2020), Ireland (down -30.4%) and Uruguay (down -17.7%).

Top Exporters of Fresh Sheep Meat

By dollar value, the following 10 countries sold the greatest amount of fresh or chilled sheep meat to international buyers during 2024.

1. Australia: US$1.5 billion (up 54% from 2020)
2. United Kingdom: $720.8 million (up 40.4%)
3. New Zealand: $402.1 million (2020 data unavailable)
4. France: $401.1 million (up 882.6%)
5. Ireland: $370.1 million (up 11.4%)
6. Spain: $267.8 million (up 108.1%)
7. Netherlands: $165.4 million (up 95.2%)
8. Belgium: $106.2 million (up 62.3%)
9. Pakistan: $85.8 million (2020 data unavailable)
10. India: $77.4 million (up 74.8%)

By value, the listed 10 countries shipped 90.3% of exports of fresh or chilled sheep meat in 2024.

Worldwide revenues from exported fresh or chilled sheep meat gained 57.1% since 2020, accelerating by 18.5% from 2023 to 2024.

Among the listed countries, the fastest-growing exporters of fresh or chilled sheep meat since 2020 were France (up 882.6%), Spain (up 108.1%), Netherlands (up 95.2%) and India (up 74.8%).

Top Exporters of Lamb Meat

By dollar value, the following 10 countries sold the greatest amount of fresh, chilled or frozen lamb meat on worldwide markets during 2024.

1. United Kingdom: US$596.7 million (up 103.4% from 2020)
2. Australia: $434.8 million (up 72.6%)
3. France: $306.3 million (up 4144.8%)
4. Spain: $176.5 million (up 74.8%)
5. Ireland: $166 million (up 41.4%)
6. Netherlands: $76.9 million (up 69.6%)
7. Pakistan: $71 million (up 160.7%)
8. Belgium: $60.1 million (up 217.5%)
9. South Africa: $58.2 million (2023 data unavailable)
10. Greece: $48.2 million (up 53%)

By value, the listed 10 countries shipped 90.6% of fresh, chilled or frozen lamb meat exported throughout 2024.

International sales of exported lamb meat accelerated by 106.8% since 2020 and expanded by 16.4% from 2023 to 2024.

Among the above countries, the fastest-growing exporters of fresh, chilled or frozen lamb meat were France (up 4,145% from 2020), Belgium (up 217.5%), Pakistan (up 160.7%), Romania (up 109%) then the United Kingdom (up 103.4%).
 

See also Top Beef Exporting Countries, Pork Exports by Country, Chicken Exports by Country and Top Goat Meat Exports by Country

Research Sources:
Central Intelligence Agency, The World Factbook Field Listing: Exports – Commodities. Accessed on August 25, 2025

International Trade Centre, Trade Map. Accessed on August 25, 2025

Wikipedia, Sheep. Accessed on August 25, 2025