Exports of New Zealand meat reached NZ$10 billion in 2021, despite the supply-chain disruption caused by the Covid 19 pandemic.
According to a report by the Meat Industry Association (MIA), the exports were 9 per cent higher than in 2020 and the value of red meat and co-products exported in December alone were up by 22 per cent, to around $1 billion.
Sirma Karapeeva, MIA CEO, said the record sales were the result of the hard work of farmers and the 25,000 New Zealanders working in the meat industry, to overcome many logistic challenges around the world.
“The sector is continuing to perform for New Zealand in the most difficult conditions,” said Karapeeva. “However, supply-chain challenges will significantly disrupt exports for some time to come and we do not yet know what impact that will have on the Easter chilled trade.
“This illustrates very clearly how critical it is for the industry to have access to sufficient labour, including overseas migrants to capture the greatest market value and support the jobs of thousands of hard-working Kiwis.”
The value of sheepmeat exports went up by 5 per cent and of beef by 9 per cent while co-products exports also increased by 19 per cent, to almost $2 billion.
In the UK, chilled sheepmeat sales dropped 42 per cent in December, the lowest volume in 25 years, while frozen sheepmeat sales surged by 95 per cent.
Karapeeva said that red meat exporters have adapted to the rapid change in the logistics environment.
Another factor is that the price of sheepmeat in China climbed despite export volumes falling 5 per cent in the fourth quarter. However, China remained the largest importer for the quarter, followed by the US, the UK and Japan.
Some new markets are showing growth, such as the US (up by 15 per cent), the Netherlands (up by 59 per cent), and France (up by 34 per cent).
