Australian lamb exports remain steady in June 2026

Australia shipped 38,495 tonnes of sheep meat in June 2026, about 19% below the unusually strong levels of June last year but only 9% under the five‑year average, indicating demand is normalising. China stayed the top buyer with 9,682 tonnes (21.7% of total), while the United States imported 8,077 tonnes (19.6%). Other destinations received 20,736 tonnes, showing a broadly diversified market.

In the Middle East, recovery was uneven: the United Arab Emirates and Jordan were still 25% and 20% below their five‑year averages, Qatar 26% below, but Bahrain saw a surge, exporting 60% above its five‑year average after a period of minimal trade. Overall, China, the United States, the Middle East, other Asian markets and the rest of the world accounted for roughly 22%, 20%, 13%, 15% and 31% of Australia’s lamb exports respectively, supporting resilience in the industry.