NZ Red Meat Outlook 2026: Growth amid trade uncertainty
While things are looking positive for the red meat sector in 2026, volatility in global trade remains a concern, says the Meat Industry Association (MIA).
According to analysis by the Meat Industry Association (MIA) last year's exports represented a 9% increase on 2020. Meanwhile, the value of red meat and co-products exported in December 2021 was also up 22% year-on-year, at just over $1 billion.
"Despite all the disruptions and labour shortages, we were able to make the most of the global demand for red meat and generate record export revenue," says MIA chief executive Sirma Karapeeva.
However, she warns that supply chain challenges will significantly disrupt exports for some time to come and it is unknown what impact this 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."
Overall, both sheepmeat and beef exports increased by 5% and 9% year-on-year respectively, with both worth more than $4 billion for the year. Co-products exports also increased by 19% to almost $2 billion.
Karapeeva says red meat exporters have responded swiftly to adapt to rapidly-changing logistics environments - for instance, by converting chilled product to frozen, when needed, to address risks in the disrupted supply chain.
While chilled sheepmeat exports to the UK dropped by 42% in December, to the lowest volume in 25 years, frozen sheepmeat exports to the UK increased by 95%.
Karapeeva adds that while there has been some softening in Chinese demand for sheepmeat from the previous high levels, prices in China have remained strong.
Sheepmeat export volumes to China dropped by 15% in the fourth quarter. However, the value of sheepmeat exports to China increased by 3% in the same period.
China remained the largest overall importer for the quarter (41%), followed by the US (20%), the UK (4%) and Japan.
China was also the largest beef export market, followed by the US and Japan. Beef export volumes to China were the same as the final quarter of 2020, at 46% of total, but increased 33% by value.
Exports to the US dropped by 15% by volume but increased by 16% in value. Exports to Japan remained the same at 7% of volume but grew 39% by value.
