Global meat demand surges, but NZ’s supply is lagging

(Image: Getty)

Wed, 23 Jul 2025

Global demand for red meat is strong, but New Zealand lacks sufficient livestock to meet it.Although it is difficult to put an exact figure on it, the country could be losing hundreds of millions of dollars in export revenue.It is a somewhat awkward dynamic that is playing out in the NZ red meat sector at the moment, with farmers getting near-record prices for their products. Still, processors’ margins are being squeezed as they scrap amongst themselves for livestock.NZ’s livestock numbers have fallen in recent years off the back of...

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