U.S. imports of Frozen Lamb and Mutton (SITC 01212) totaled $53.1M in September 2026, imported from 8 countries.
Importers of Frozen Lamb and Mutton paid $6.3M in duties in September 2026, an average duty rate of 12.31% — duty actually collected as a share of the imports that cleared customs, not the published tariff schedule. Frozen Lamb and Mutton imports of $53.1M in September 2026 ran 33% below the year-to-date monthly average of $79.6M.
Last updated: September 2026 dataFrozen sheep meat — encompassing both lamb and mutton — provides the extended shelf life needed for long-distance trade and allows importers to build inventory buffers against seasonal supply fluctuations. USDA FSIS reinspection at a US port of entry is mandatory, and the product must originate from an FSIS-approved foreign establishment. Mutton and lamb are classified together under this heading, but buyers and processors typically specify the age-based grade in commercial contracts because the two differ substantially in flavor profile and end-use application.
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326 import shipments a month
Both fall under the same SITC heading, but commercially they are differentiated by the age of the animal at slaughter — lamb is typically under one year old, while mutton comes from older sheep. Foreign health certificates and commercial invoices should specify the product type, as buyers, retailers, and foodservice operators treat them as distinct products with different pricing and culinary applications.
Yes. USDA FSIS maintains a list of countries and establishments eligible to export meat to the US. A country's eligibility is based on FSIS's equivalence determination of its food safety inspection system. Importers should verify that both the exporting country and the specific establishment are currently on the FSIS-approved list before contracting for shipment.
Basic heading 45 of 337 in section 0
Basic heading 01212 · $53.1M of $14.7B
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ImportsExports
Imports
$53.1MYoY · free account
Exports
$822KYoY · free account
12-mo low · imports
Low · free accountOver the twelve months to September 2026, the U.S. imported $948.8M of Frozen Lamb and Mutton and exported $16.5M.
Through September 2026. Source: U.S. Census Bureau.
Imports · September 2026
origin
Australia and New Zealand together supply 99% of it. New Zealand pays 12.5% duty; Canada 0.0%.
customs district
Census does not publish district detail for this classification system.
destination
Census does not publish state detail for this classification system.
entry
Census does not publish port detail for this classification system.