Beef and veal export returns have reached a record high of $1.6 billion for the past six months, a jump of $480 million over the same period in 2013-14.

The premium prices exporters have received overseas have had an impact on the cost of beef on the domestic market, where shoppers now pay $27.28 a kilogram for sirloin steak, compared to $23.83 a year ago.

Lamb exports also rose in value in the six months to March 2015 by 2.2 per cent to $1.36bn, despite the fact less was sold.

Mutton exports failed to keep pace with beef, veal and lamb, with returns dropping 18 per cent, to $273m.

Beef + Lamb New Zealand said in releasing the figures that stronger demand and a weaker New Zealand dollar against the United States collar had led to the record 43 per cent higher beef and veal returns compared to last season.

Beef and veal exports reached 212,100 tonnes, up 12 per cent or 22,600 tonnes on the corresponding period last season. This reflected a high and early cattle processing season – particularly in relation to cull cows – and strong global demand for beef.

Beef + Lamb said the increase was mainly due to consistent high monthly volumes exported to the two main markets for New Zealand beef – the US and China – while volumes to other main markets fell.

Exports to the US climbed 33 per cent to 122,200 tonnes, while exports to China increased by 21 per cent to 21,000 tonnes in the first half of 2014-15.

Most of the increase came from processing beef used for grinding into hamburger meat, while exports of boneless cuts fell slightly. Processing beef and boneless cuts accounted for 54 and 34 per cent, respectively, of total beef and veal export volumes in the first six months of the 2014-15 season.

The average per tonne value of beef and veal exports rose 28 per cent, to $7540, compared with $5890 in the corresponding period last season. The average value of New Zealand beef and veal exports to the US and China increased by 40 and 21 per cent, respectively.

Even though New Zealand lamb export volumes fell by 2.9 per cent in the first six months of the 2014-15 season, they were worth $1.36bn, 2.2 per cent above last season's figure.

Lamb exports to the European Union, the largest market region for New Zealand lamb, were up 3.9 per cent, to 68,700 tonnes, compared with the same period last season. Exports to North Asia were down 8.5 per cent, to 47,500 tonnes, mainly driven by lower exports of carcases to China. Shipments to North America and the Middle East were up 2.0 and 0.9 per cent, respectively.

Over the first six months of the season, lamb exports averaged $8870 per tonne, up 5.2 per cent on the same period last season.

Less mutton was exported in the six months to March 2015, reflecting the fact that in the previous season, dry conditions and dairy expansions had led to a large cull of ewes. Exports fell by 18 per cent to 51,000 tonnes. Shipments remained 9.2 per cent above the five-year average for the period October to March of 46,700 tonnes.

Exports to North Asia slowed, while exports to the European Union, South Asia and North America increased. China bought 31,600 tonnes, or 30 per cent less mutton than the previous season.

The average value of mutton exports remained unchanged at $5350 per tonne.