Australian lamb exports to South East Asia and China during 2008 increased 4pc on previous year to 26,465 tonnes (shipped weight), the highest volume on record, according to Meat and Livestock Australia.
MLA reports that shipments of chilled lamb eased 2pc year-on-year to 1394t, but frozen exports set a new record of 25,071t.
China continued to be the dominant buyer of Australian lamb in the region, although disruption to the distribution system for imported sheepmeat at the time of the Olympic Games contributed to exports to the market being 3pc below a year ago at 14,041t.
Lamb exports to Hong Kong reached a new record of 5377t during 2008.
The lamb trade to most other South East Asian and Chinas markets was slightly lower to firm during 2008, except for shipments to Malaysia, which jumped 26pc to 3177t.
