Australian beef exports hit all-time records

Australia’s beef exports have reached unprecedented levels, setting new records for both June and the full 2024–25 financial year, according to official data from DAFF, informed Beef Central portal.

June exports totaled 134,593 tons, up 4% from May and 27% higher year-on-year. It marks the highest monthly total ever recorded. For the calendar year’s first half, shipments reached 702,217 tons, a 17% increase over 2024 and also a record. The full fiscal year (July–June) concluded with total exports of 1.44 million tons, beating the previous 2014–15 record by 90,000 tons despite early-year setbacks from flooding and cyclones.

This record-breaking performance is fueled by high global demand and declining US beef production, says Beef Central. Unlike past records driven by a single destination, this growth is broad-based. The US, China, Japan, and South Korea all saw significant increases, along with smaller markets like Indonesia and Canada.

June exports to the US hit 35,350 tons, up 23% from June 2024, though slightly below May. For the full calendar year, exports to the US reached 203,000 tons, up 31% year-on-year. China received 27,036 tons in June (+14% MoM, +105% YoY), bringing the fiscal year total to 128,510 tons (+43%). Japan imported 21,876 tons in June (+10% MoM), though fiscal-year total of 117,763 tons was down 12% from the previous year. Korea’s June imports were 19,343 tons (+11% MoM, +20% YoY), with a full-year total of 101,527 tons (+13%).

With Australia continuing to process large volumes of cattle and record-high carcass weights compensating for smaller herd numbers, 2025 is on track to break even more records by year-end.