Australian beef exports hit record high in 2025

: Agriculture
26/01/08

Australian beef exports in 2025 reached 1.545mn t, surpassing all previous annual totals. This volume is higher than the 1.34mn tonnes exported in 2024 and 1.23mn t in 2019.

December exports also set a record at 147,533t, exceeding previous December highs, according to data from Australia's Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) released on 7 December. Historically, December and January have been quieter months for beef exports due to public holidays and seasonal plant closures. Quotas and tariff resets for the new calendar year contributed to the rise in December shipments.

Favourable seasonal conditions over consecutive years across large parts of the country led to ample cattle supply, record feedlot capacity, increased carcass weights, and strong processing capacity, all supporting the surge in exports.

Strong international demand, particularly from the US, was a key driver. Drought conditions and tariffs on Brazilian beef increased US demand for lean beef, making Australian product more competitive. Exports to the US rose 15pc year-on-year to 452,795t in 2025.

Strong demand for specific cuts and grain-fed beef drove Australian exports to China in 2025, despite safeguard tariffs and an import probe that caused some subdued trade periods. Australian exports to China totalled 272,939t in 2025, up 41pc from the previous year, keeping Australia among China's leading beef suppliers. China announced a 55pc tariff on beef imports from countries including Australia for shipments exceeding set quotas starting 1 January 2026, raising concerns for future trade.

Australian beef exports to South Korea reached 221,350t in 2025, exceeding the 2024 record of 200,545t.

Australian beef exports to Japan showed mixed trends in 2025, with monthly fluctuations and economic headwinds affecting trade. Exports to Japan totalled 257,378t in 2025, the first time the annual total exceeded 250,000t since 2020.

Australian cattle slaughter totalled 7.18mn head in the year to 12 December 2025, with two weeks of data still to be added, data from Meat and Livestock Australia (MLA) show. This exceeds last year's total of 6.7mn head and is the highest total since 2019's 7.37mn head.

Jessica Clarke

Australian beef exports 2025						t
	US	Japan	China	South Korea	Indonesia	Total
Dec '25	41,225	22,632	29,878	21,138	7,837	147,533
Nov '25	41,714	24,877	20,345	17,399	5,018	131,705
Dec '24	42,104	18,082	23,860	18,496	5,759	127,393
Dec '23	35,763	19,014	18,399	15,458	4,012	106,724
Dec '22	16,617	16,429	12,950	16,125	2,498	76,118
Dec '21	15,277	16,819	13,805	15,181	2,412	77,058
2025	452,795	257,378	272,939	221,350	66,582	1,545,759
2024	394,543	247,604	193,227	200,545	84,178	1,343,568
2023	245,849	206,802	206,191	188,923	68,387	1,082,405
2022	133,841	214,305	158,086	160,725	39,324	854,592
2021	145,024	233,818	148,357	165,053	45,178	887,679
2020	211,376	269,302	196,696	160,850	47,733	1,039,410
2019	250,980	287,495	300,132	162,343	57,637	1,228,963
Totals include all destinations not just those listed
Source: DAFF

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