FOR the second consecutive year, Australian lamb and mutton exports to the EU have fulfilled the calendar year allocated quota before the year's end.
The allocated quota is 19,186 tonnes carcase weight equivalent (cwe).
Exports at November 30 totalled 18,964 tonnes cwe, or 99 per cent of the quota, according to the Department of Agriculture.
Australia is the only country to have filled its EU quota in 2013, 2014 and 2015, yet its access remains limited to only 6.7pc of the total EU sheepmeat quota.
Overall, Australian sheepmeat exports to the EU during the January to November 2015 period were steady year-on-year.
While bone-in shipments declined 16pc for the period, the rise in bone-out products - up 44pc - offset the decline on total exports.
The UK remained the major destination for Australian sheepmeat in the EU, accounting for 86pc of total exports, and with leg and shanks combined accounting for 78pc.
New Zealand sheepmeat exports to the EU increased year-on-year for the January to October period, totalling 163,512 tonnes cwe, or 71.6pc of its total allocated quota (228,254 tonnes cwe).