International sales of exported sheep and lamb meat totaled US$9.14 billion in 2022, a revenue increase of 21% for all sheep and lamb meat shippers over the five-year period starting from $7.56 billion in 2018.

Year over year, the overall value of exported meat pertinent to sheep and lambs rose by 1.8% compared to $8.98 billion for 2021.

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 40.9% of the overall total. In second place was exported fresh or chilled lamb carcasses and half-carcasses (15.3%) slightly ahead of fresh or chilled cuts of sheep meat including bones (15.1%) then frozen boneless cuts of sheep meat (13.1%).

Smaller percentages are attributed to fresh or chilled boneless cuts of sheep meat (6.6%), fresh, chilled or frozen goat meat (4.5%), fresh or chilled sheep carcasses and half-carcasses (3%) excluding lambs, frozen sheep carcasses and half-carcasses (2.9%) excluding lambs, then frozen lamb carcasses and half-carcasses (1.6%).

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 2022.

1. Australia: US$3.4 billion (up 23.6% from 2018)
2. New Zealand: $2.8 billion (up 5.1%)
3. United Kingdom: $603.6 million (up 23.1%)
4. Ireland: $450.1 million (up 25.5%)
5. France: $338.1 million (up 447.9%)
6. Spain: $296.5 million (up 48.8%)
7. Netherlands: $296.3 million (up 28%)
8. Belgium: $128.7 million (down -1.5%)
9. Uruguay: $99.2 million (up 38.8%)
10. Germany: $76.2 million (up 14%)

By value, the listed 10 countries shipped 93.4% of all exported sheep and lamb meat in 2022.

Among the above countries, the fastest-growing exporters of sheep and lamb meat since 2018 are France (up 447.9%), Spain (up 48.8%), Uruguay (up 38.8%), Netherlands (up 28%) then Ireland (up 25.5%).

The lone decliner from 2018 to 2022 was Belgium thanks to its -1.5% reduction.

Top Exporters of Frozen Sheep Meat

The following 10 countries sold the greatest amount of frozen sheep meat on global markets during 2022 by dollar value.

1. New Zealand: US$2.3 billion (up 16.3% from 2018)
2. Australia: $2.28 billion (up 34%)
3. Netherlands: $163.2 million (up 132.2%)
4. Spain: $103.6 million (up 43.9%)
5. Uruguay: $91.3 million (up 33.7%)
6. Ireland: $83.2 million (up 57.3%)
7. Germany: $61.1 million (up 17.6%)
8. Chile: $41.6 million (up 20.7%)
9. Belgium: $35.3 million (down -42.3%)
10. United Kingdom: $32.2 million (down -28.8%)

By value, the listed 10 countries shipped 96.9% of exports of frozen sheep meat in 2022.

Overall, international sales of frozen sheep meat rose 24.3% since 2018 and increased by 4.4% from 2021 to 2022.

Among the above countries, the fastest-growing exporters of frozen sheep meat since 2018 were the Netherlands (up 132.2%), Ireland (up 57.3%), Spain (up 43.9%), Australia (up 34%) then Uruguay (up 33.7%).

There was a pair of decliners over the 5-year period, namely Belgium (down -42.3% from 2018) and the United Kingdom (down -28.8%).

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 2022.

1. Belgium: $1.084 billion (up 1,460% from 2018)
2. Netherlands: $571.5 million (up 254.6%)
3. United Kingdom: $320.3 million (down -28.1%)
4. Tanzania: $287.8 million (up 587,263%)
5. Ireland: $286.5 million (up 40.7%)
6. France: $192.9 million (up 267.2%)
7. Greece: $133.1 million (up 314.2%)
8. Spain: $93.5 (down -26.6%)
9. New Zealand: $46.6 million (down -89.2%)
10. Australia: US$43.5 million (down -95.7%)

By value, the listed 10 countries shipped 83.7% of exports of fresh or chilled sheep meat in 2022.

Worldwide revenues from exported fresh or chilled sheep meat gained 12.5% since 2018, contrasting with the -0.7% drop from 2021 to 2022.

Among the listed countries, the fastest-growing exporters of fresh or chilled sheep meat since 2018 were Tanzania (up 587,263%), Belgium (up 1,460%), Greece (up 314.2%), France (up 267.2%), Netherlands (up 254.6%) and Ireland (up 40.7%).

Declines over the 5-year period belong to Australia (down -95.7% from 2018), New Zealand (down -89.2%), United Kingdom (down -28.1%) and Spain (down -26.6%).

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 2022.

1. United Kingdom: US$457.2 million (up 101.9% from 2018)
2. France: $223 million (up 2,352%)
3. Ireland: $155.8 million (up 59.9%)
4. Spain: $152.3 million (up 53.8%)
5. Australia: $142 million (down -59.8%)
6. Netherlands: $58.1 million (down -51.5%)
7. Greece: $45.9 million (up 40.7%)
8. New Zealand: $42 million (up 41.6%)
9. Belgium: $25.8 million (2021 data unavailable)
10. Pakistan: $25.4 million (up 452.4%)

By value, the listed 10 countries shipped 85.6% of fresh, chilled or frozen lamb meat exported throughout 2022.

International sales of exported lamb meat increased by 31.9% since 2018 but retreated by -6.5% from 2021 to 2022.

Among the above countries, the fastest-growing exporters of fresh, chilled or frozen lamb meat were France (up 2,352% from 2021), Pakistan (up 452.4%), United Kingdom (up 101.9%), Ireland (up 59.9%), then Spain (up 53.8%).

The two setbacks over the 5-year period belong to Australia (down -59.8% from 2021) and the Netherlands (down -51.5%).
 

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 September 15, 2023

International Trade Centre, Trade Map. Accessed on September 15, 2023

Wikipedia, Sheep. Accessed on September 15, 2023