The latest sheep meat export figures show a rise in lamb prices has offset the smaller volume of the meat exported so far this season.
Beef + Lamb's export figures for the first half of the 2013/14 season show lamb exports were down by 2.5 percent on the same period last year by volume - but prices were up by 14 percent.
The total value of lamb exports in the first half of the season was $1.33 billion - up 11 percent on the same period last year.
The European Union took the lion's share of the exported lamb - 42 percent, North Asia was the second biggest market for lamb taking 33 percent.
Exports of mutton reached a new record in the first half of the season with more than 60,000 tonnes being shipped earning $33 million - up 44 percent on the same time last season.
China took 72% of all that mutton - up from 52% last season.
Beef + Lamb says there has been a tremendous rise in demand for sheep carcasses in China.
