National lamb saleyard prices in July this year were higher across all categories compared with the same period in 2013, Meat and Livestock Australia has reported.

The best performing category was restocker lambs, in which values lifted 39 percent or 137 cents, averaging 486c/kg cwt, MLA said.

Merino lamb prices rose 20pc or 83 cents up compared to July 2013 to 495c/kg cwt and light lambs were up 22pc or 90 cents to 496c/kg cwt. Trade lamb prices increased 10pc or 51 cents on last year to 541c/kg cwt, while heavy lambs gained six percent or 33cents, averaging 551c/kg cwt for the month.

MLA said direct-to-works prices in July were also dearer year-on-year, with light weight lambs up 27pc or 112 cents at 532c/kg cwt. Medium trade lambs were 20pc or 98 cents higher than last year, to 582c/kg cwt, while heavy trade lambs increased 21pc or 100 cents, averaging 583c/kg cwt. Heavy weight lamb prices lifted 20pc or 98 cents to 580c/kg cwt.

The national saleyard mutton indicator was 32pc or 84 cents dearer than the corresponding month last year, averaging 351c/kg cwt during July.

MLA said the total lamb export volume lifted 10pc for July to 20,635 tonnes with the Middle East importing the highest volume from Australia of 6217 tonnes – the highest to the region since DAFF records began in 1994. Lamb exports to the US increased 10pc to 3435 tonnes, while shipments to China fell two percent to 3444 tonnes.

MLA said Australian mutton exports for July were 11pc lower at 9929 tonnes, with fewer supplies available as turn-off eased through winter. Mutton shipments to the Middle East increased 26pc to 3206 tonnes. Volumes to China declined 48pc to 1999 tonnes, while to shipments to South East Asia, shipments were fairly at 1366 tonnes.