Meat & Livestock Australia (MLA) has reported rising demand for Australian lamb in the United Kingdom, identifying the market as one of several growth opportunities for exporters. The region’s MLA team told attendees at the WA Meat Marketing Co-operative AGM that the UK remains a large consumer of sheepmeat and that Australian suppliers have increased their presence since the 2023 UK-Australia Free Trade Agreement.
UK market size and import shares
MLA calculated that the UK consumes roughly 280,000-305,000 tonnes of sheepmeat each year. While most of that volume is produced domestically, imports supply only a minority of total consumption. New Zealand traditionally accounts for the larger share of imports, typically supplying 10-13 per cent of UK demand.
| measure | figure |
|---|---|
| UK annual sheepmeat consumption | 280,000-305,000 tonnes |
| New Zealand share of imports | 10-13 per cent |
| Australian share (historical) | 2-3pc |
| Australian share (2020–2025) | about 7pc |
Which cuts are selling
MLA regional manager for UK, Europe, Middle East and Africa, Darren Watson, outlined the specific product demand drivers in the UK market. He said retail buyers most want leg, loin, chump chops and shoulder, while foodservice demand centres on leg roasts for carveries and banquets, shoulder for slow cooking and pulling, and lamb mince/trim used in kebabs, kofta and curries.
“Most of that is domestically produced, with imports accounting for only a relatively small share of total consumption,” Darren Watson, MLA regional manager for UK, Europe, Middle East and Africa, said
MLA noted that Australian lamb’s share of the UK market has expanded from historical levels following the 2023 UK-Australia Free Trade Agreement, rising from around 2-3pc historically to roughly 7pc between 2020 and 2025. Watson attributed part of the shift to targeted investment and activity by MLA staff in the region and to changes in New Zealand’s approach to UK markets.
- Market size: UK sheepmeat consumption c. 280,000–305,000 tonnes per year
- Import pattern: New Zealand remains the dominant imported supplier at 10–13%
- Australian growth: Australian share rose to about 7% by 2025 after the 2023 FTA
The MLA presentation underlined the distinction between retail and foodservice requirements and suggested focused marketing and product alignment as part of Australia’s increased effort in the UK. The figures and commentary were reported by Farm Weekly following the WA Meat Marketing Co-operative AGM.
