Beef export returns have trumped their sheepmeat counterparts for the first time in two decades.
New Zealand beef production increased significantly in the 2014-15 meat export season, which ended on September 30, driven by high prices - mainly due to strong United States demand - and low dairy prices.
Beef and veal exports generated $3.2billion, up 39% on the previous season, reflecting an increase in both shipments (up 10%) and average value (up 26%), analysis by Beef and Lamb New Zealand's economic service showed.
Exports averaged $7510 per tonne, compared with $5970 in the previous value. It was the first time in the 35 years records have been kept that the average value exceeded $6000.
Lamb exports were down 2%, despite an increase in lamb production in the season. That was offset by a rise in the average value of lamb exports, up 3.4%.
Lamb export returns reached $2.6billion, up 1.3% on the previous season. Half the returns were achieved in the EU while North Asia, the second-largest export region, accounted for 21%.
After doubling over the previous five years, lamb shipments to North Asia dropped by 12% due to more product being exported to other markets.
Mutton shipments dropped 8.8% to 85,300 tonnes shipped weight, although the shipments were still 13% higher than the five-year average, reflecting elevated levels of production and exports in 2013-14.
The combination of lower shipments and no change in the average value resulted in mutton export returns dropping 9% to $445million.
ANZ's latest Agri Focus said sheepmeat turnoff had been higher than expected throughout the season, leading to a further 0.9million head (4.5%) fall in breeding ewe numbers.
Combined with tough tupping conditions, especially in many eastern regions, that was expected to reduce this year's lamb crop by 7.2%, or 1.8million head.
As long as the El Nino weather pattern did not bite too hard during the summer period, sheepmeat production was expected to drop by 8% to 442,000tonnes in 2015-16, the lowest level of production since 2011-12.
