AMERICAN lamb buyers are still keen to secure supplies from Australia, despite high cold storage inventories, according to Meat and Livestock Australia.

MLA said despite a slight year-on-year decline in the volume of Australian lamb exported in May, the Australian Bureau of Statistics said the value of shipments was 12 percent higher than the corresponding month last year, reaching A$160.1 million.

“This year-on-year rise was largely driven by an increase in both the volume and value of Australian lamb shipped to the US during the month.

“Despite high cold storage inventories in the US throughout 2015, US buyers are reportedly still keen to secure supplies in anticipation of tighter offerings later in the year,” MLA said.

The value of lamb exported to the US in May rose 73pc on year-ago levels to A$56.1 million.

Demand for lamb from the Middle East remained strong, particularly from Jordan, while returns from China, Japan and UK eased year-on-year, MLA said.

Shipments to the Middle East in May returned A$41.5 million, up 14pc, and the value of lamb shipped to China fell 45pc year-on-year to A$10.8 million.

Volumes to Japan in May were valued at $7.1 million, 11pc lower than last year, and the value of shipments to the UK declined 27pc to $5.7 million.

Source: Meat and Livestock Australia.