Australian lamb market sees strong winter demand as US and China import volumes rise

Australian lamb prices rose in winter as buyers chased heavier carcasses, with the Eastern States Trade Lamb Indicator gaining 19 cents to $1,264 per cwt and premiums persisting for grain‑finished stock. Export demand remains robust: the United States accounted for 39 % of Australian lamb shipments and China for 32 %, while volumes to the EU and UK also increased year‑on‑year.

In the United States, western livestock auctions reported soft lamb prices but strong goat demand. Cattle markets showed limited feeder cattle supplies, with notable price spreads for cows, steers and bulls across Oregon, Idaho and Washington. Lebanon’s auction yard also posted modest activity. The combined data highlight divergent regional trends in livestock pricing and supply amid ongoing drought pressures in the United States and steady export demand for Australian lambs.