Red meat reaches records

The United States led as the largest market, with exports up 17% to $3.2 billion, followed by China at $2.5 billion, and significant growth to the European Union, the United Kingdom and Canada.

The increase in export value was driven by high global demand and tight supply, with the Ministry for Primary Industries’ report noting that global beef and sheepmeat production constraints contributed to rising prices. Despite a steady volume of sheepmeat exports, the value rose by 31% to $4.7 billion. Exports to China saw a slight drop in volume but a 17% increase in value, while the EU and UK experienced significant growth in both volume and value.

For beef, the volume of exports decreased by 7% to 447,610 tonnes, but the value increased by 15% to a record $5 billion. This increase was driven by higher prices, particularly to markets like the US and Canada. While exports to China dropped, the UK saw a remarkable 378% rise in beef exports, partly due to the NZ-UK Free Trade Agreement.

The fifth quarter, including products like casings, tripe, and offals, also performed well, with exports rising by 8% to $2 billion. China, the US and the EU were the largest markets for these products.

In December 2025, exports continued strong, with significant growth to the EU, UK and Canada, highlighting the ongoing global demand for New Zealand’s high-quality red meat and by-products.