New Zealand’s red meat sector weathers United States tariffs for now

Continued strong international demand saw New Zealand red meat exports reach $713 million during September, a 29 per cent increase on the same period in 2024, according to the Meat Industry Association (MIA).

The value of overall exports for the third quarter of 2025 reached $2.27 billion, 20 per cent higher than the same quarter in 2024.

New Zealand’s three major markets all increased in value in September, with the US up 25 per cent to $175 million, China up 26 per cent to $131 million and the EU up 35 per cent to $116 million.

Sirma Karapeeva, chief executive of the Meat Industry Association, said at this stage, the US tariffs did not appear to be having a significant impact on exports.

“September is the first month where our sector might have seen a material impact on red meat exports to the US.

“While there was a drop in beef exports to the US, that could be partly due to other market factors, as there was also a fall in beef exports to Canada.

“There was also an increase in both sheepmeat and fifth quarter exports to the US in September.”

The drop in beef exports to North America was offset by increased demand for beef exports to North Asia and the UK, she says.

Sheepmeat

Sheepmeat export volumes increased by 14 per cent to 17,890 tonnes compared to September 2024 with the value rising 42 per cent to $252 million.

This was partly due to growth in exports to the EU, with the volume up 11 per cent to 3,327 tonnes and the value up 40 per cent to $75 million.

The was also an increase in exports to China, up 12 per cent by volume to 6,484 tonnes and 38 per cent by value to $47 million, and to the US which increased 14 per cent by volume to 2,273 tonnes and 17 per cent by value to $42 million.

Beef

The volume of beef exports was down four per cent from last September to 26,866 tonnes, but the value increased by 15 per cent to $286 million.

Beef exports to the US were down 17 per cent by volume to 6,615 tonnes and six per cent by value to $82 million. Canada was down 24 per cent by volume to 2,429 tonnes and five per cent by value to $26 million.

The volume and value of exports to China, Japan and Korea were all up from last September and there was further growth in exports to the UK, where volume was up 301 per cent to 2,074 tonnes and value up 457 per cent to $25 million.

Fifth quarter

Fifth quarter exports were worth $174 million, which was 38 per cent higher than last September.

This was largely driven by growth in blood products up 157 per cent to $37 million and tallow up 162 per cent to $28 million.

Exports to the US rose by 207 per cent to $50 million, mainly due to a significant increase in demand for tallow.

Q3 July to September quarter

Overall export volumes for both beef and sheepmeat were similar to the 2024 third quarter. However, there was an increase in the value of exports to all the major markets, with the US up 12 per cent to $628 million, China up 25 per cent to $451 million, the EU up 35 per cent to $339 million and the UK up 80 per cent to $174 million.

The average value of overall sheepmeat exports increased from $10.31/kg in 2024 Q3 to $13.64 in 2025 Q3. The average value of beef exports increased from $9.16/kg to $11.02/kg in the same period.

There was a small increase in the volume of sheepmeat exports, up two per cent to 59,249 tonnes, but value increased by 35 per cent to $808 million.

The most significant growth in value for sheepmeat was to the EU, up 50 per cent to $235 million. There was also growth in exports to China up 27 per cent to $155 million, the US up 19 per cent to $143 million, and the UK up 24 per cent to $90 million.

The volume of beef exports for the quarter was down five per cent to 90,171 tonnes but value increased by 15 per cent to $994 million.

The value of beef exports to the US was up three per cent to $369 million, China was up 27 per cent to $194 million and the UK was up 431 per cent to $73 million. There was a drop in the value of exports to Canada, down two per cent to $74 million.

There was good growth in chilled exports, contributing to the overall increase in value. Chilled sheepmeat was up nine per cent by volume to 7,120 tonnes and 42 per cent by value to $171 million.

Chilled beef exports increased by 21 per cent by volume to 8,924 tonnes and 43 per cent by value to $182 million.

Fifth quarter exports were worth $467 million in the third quarter, up eight per cent from 2024 Q3.

The largest categories were blood products and glands, up 441 per cent to $79 million, prepared meat products up eight per cent to $78 million and casings and tripe up 25 per cent to $72 million.

ENDS