China's demand for New Zealand's beef, lamb and mutton is forecast to propel both sheep meat and beef exports past the $4 billion mark for the first time according to Beef + Lamb New Zealand's New Season Outlook 2019-20. It forecasts beef, lamb and mutton prices to lift from historically high levels, helped by continuing strong export demand and an expected weakening of the New Zealand dollar. Demand for the meat is partly due to the African swine fever reducing the availability of pork in China, forcing the country to source other meat to fill the demand gap. Uncertainty does surround international trade, however it has been reported that New Zealand’s sheep meat and beef are grounded in solid demand from large economies.

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