American lamb showed exceptional strength in the third quarter of 2025, outperforming imports even as retail prices rose sharply.
According to the American Lamb Board’s (ALB) latest third quarter retail report, total lamb dollar sales—across both domestic and imported product—climbed 7.9% from last year’s third quarter, while total volume dropped 4.8%. Based on retail scans from Circana, a market research company, the average retail price of lamb increased 13.3% year over year, rising from $8.04 per pound to $9.12/lb.
American lamb figures
The figures change significantly when looking at American lamb sold through retailers that exclusively carry domestic product. In these stores, both dollars and pounds sold increased.
The report showed that from July through September, domestic lamb posted a 9.2% increase in dollar sales and a 4.1% rise in volume. Over the last 52 weeks, domestic lamb achieved even stronger results, with 12.2% dollar growth and 11% volume growth.
According to the report, much of that momentum came from ground lamb and loin chops. Ground lamb saw 19.2% volume growth over the last year, reflecting its role in weeknight cooking, global-inspired dishes and cost-conscious meal planning. Ground lamb continued to be the leading domestic lamb item, making up about 22% of total dollar sales and roughly 26% of all pounds sold. Its distribution also improved in the third quarter, reaching its widest retail availability since 2023.
Loin chops surged even more dramatically, with a 31.3% increase in volume, making them one of the fastest-growing lamb cuts in the U.S. retail system. Sirloin chops, blade chops and whole leg cuts also contributed to meaningful growth. Sirloin cuts posted a 13% growth in both dollar sales and volume.
“It’s great to see American lamb sales growing as consumer interest in cooking at home and exploring new cuisines continues to grow,” said ALB Chairman Jeff Ebert. “Retailers tell us that consumers are responding to the quality and consistency of American lamb, especially when trying new flavor profiles or hosting special meals.”
The report showed that while domestic lamb posted steady price gains of 4.9%, imported lamb prices jumped 14%—nearly triple the domestic rate.
ALB said that when compared with the five-year average, national dollar sales are up 10.8%, and volume has climbed even more, rising 13.4%. This longer-term trend shows that interest in lamb has been building steadily, even before the recent price increases affected buying patterns.
Every region of the country recorded higher dollar sales from the third quarter in 2024 to the third quarter in 2025, reflecting broad consumer willingness to spend more on lamb. However, despite this widespread growth in dollars, nearly all regions experienced a decline in pounds sold during the quarter.
Major U.S. markets
ALB reported major markets across the country posted higher dollar sales for lamb in the third quarter, though the degree of growth varied widely. This increase aligns with a broader five-year trend in which every major market has seen sustained gains in total lamb spending.
Houston, TX, stood out once again as one of the fastest-expanding markets, recording a 13.9% jump in dollar sales compared to a year earlier, followed closely by Atlanta, GA, and Denver, CO, which each posted increases in the 12-13% range.
The report showed that even with this consistent growth in dollars, most major markets saw fewer pounds of lamb sold. Nine of the 11 tracked markets posted year-over-year declines in volume. Miami, FL, typically one of the strongest lamb markets in the country, experienced a modest 2.4% increase in dollar sales but saw an 11.9% drop in volume.
Baltimore, MD, and Los Angeles, CA, registered declines in volume as well, each dropping by around 8%. The only markets to record any increase in pounds sold were Seattle, WA, and Denver, and even there, the volume gains were minimal.
Exports
ALB reported U.S. lamb exports moved sharply higher in July, driven by increased shipments to Mexico, Canada, the Bahamas and Costa Rica. Muscle cut exports reached 239 metric tons (mt) for the month, a 56% jump from a year earlier, while the value of those exports rose 35% to $1.34 million. From January through July, total exports climbed 45% to 1,829 mt, valued at $9.6 million—a 26% increase over the same period last year.
Mexico remains the leading volume market, where the U.S. Meat Export Federation continues to position American lamb as a premium, versatile option suited to a range of dishes, particularly those using shoulder and flap cuts. Through July, exports to Mexico surged 68% to 834 mt, while value soared 81% to $2.94 million—already surpassing the market’s total volume and value for all of 2024. — Charles Wallace, WLJ contributing editor
