Export volumes of lamb in March increased by a third, or almost 13,000 tonnes, compared with 2012, with virtually all of the additional volume destined for China.
However, the latest Rabobank agribusiness monthly figures showed average total export value per kilogram shipped was down 20% with the value of exports sent to the EU down 25%, or about $2.50kg in comparison with March last year.
Lamb prices held steady through April, with evidence of firming appearing in the North Island towards the end of the month, while farm gate prices remained 20% to 25% below the same period last year.
Lamb processing had started to ease more dramatically in the North Island after being 24% (1.2 million head) higher than the first half of the season than the year before.
The South Island had not been as affected by drought and was only 12% ahead (800,000 head) but volumes had lifted substantially in recent weeks.
Beef slaughter continued at high levels through March, running 24% ahead of the previous season to date.
More than 250,000 additional cattle were processed over the first half of the season compared with 2012,
most being cows in the North Island.
The rate of processing was now starting to ease in the North Island as farmgate prices lifted about 9% during April.
March export volumes reflected the higher and earlier slaughter volumes, up 44% or 15,800 tonnes from the previous year. China and the United States took the additional product.
Average export returns continued to be affected by the stronger New Zealand dollar, with average export returns down 2% on average from year-ago levels, the report said.
Milk production was now ''sliding dramatically'' towards season end with comparable flows 40%-50% below the strong previous year through April.
Focus had now shifted to the 2013-14 season and expectations of higher milk prices with New Zealand dollar commodity prices sitting more than 50% higher than the same time last year on average.
