AUSTRALIA exported almost 2.2 million head of live sheep during 2014-15, up 9 percent on the previous financial year, according to data released this week by the Australian Bureau of Statistics.

Overall export values also increased, up 32pc year-on-year, to $244 million.

The Middle East continued to strengthen as the top export region, taking 97pc of all live sheep exports, at 2.1 million head.

However, the flow of exports to particular countries in the Middle East shifted somewhat over the past twelve months. The largest individual market, Kuwait, eased 19pc year-on-year, to 616,842 head. Aggregate shipments to Jordan and Qatar came back by just over 30pc, at 203,500 head and 350,264 head, respectively.

These declines were offset by a large increase in the number of live sheep shipped to the UAE, up 187pc, to 358,133 head, and Bahrain, up 274pc, to 374,640 head.

In addition, the increasing volume of whole sheep carcases shipped to the Middle East has also compensated for any declines in live exports to key markets, as illustrated in this graph.