Aussie beef exports break new records again

Monthly beef exports, grain-fed exports and financial year beef exports have all reached new records. But what’s expected for the next six months?

Records in the red meat sector continue to be set.

This time for beef exports.

Australian beef exports for June reached its highest ever monthly level at 134,593 tonnes – up 4 per cent on the total exported in May and 27 per cent higher than June 2024.

And grain-fed beef exports smashed its monthly record, while the financial year total volume also hit a new record.

Total beef exports for the first six months of 2025 hit another record 702,220 tonnes – up 17 per cent on the same period in 2024 and the 2024-25 financial year volume hit 1.44 million tonnes, a 6 per cent increase on the previous record set in 2014-15 financial year.

The United States remains the largest customer for Australian beef, driven by declining US production, trade issues and tariff impacts.

Meat and Livestock Australia global supply analyst Tim Jackson said Australian beef is in greater demand due to lower supply from competing beef export nations and significant international regard for the quality of Australian product.

“The United States remains the largest international market for Australian beef, followed by China, Japan and Korea,” Mr Jackson said.

“The proportion of exports going to other markets has also increased from 18 per cent in June 2024 to 20 per cent in June 2025, even as overall exports lifted substantially. This shows market diversity in addition to a surge in demand.”

Grain-fed beef exports also rose to 39,887 tonnes – up 29 per cent compared to June 2024 and the largest volume on record.

“This follows a run of substantial growth in grain-fed exports, meaning that the 10 largest months for grain-fed exports occurred over the past year. This demonstrates a strengthening market,” Mr Jackson said.

In the monthly volume breakdown, the United States took 35,350 tonnes of Australia beef in June, down 8 per cent on May exports, while China took 27,265 tonnes in June, up 14 per cent on May, and Japan took 21,876 tonnes, up 10 per cent on the previous month.

StoneX Australia livestock and commodities manager Ripley Atkinson said Australian beef exports will continue to rise in the second half of 2025, in line with higher cattle slaughter volumes.

Mr Atkinson said he expects to see monthly beef export records broken again at least twice in the next six months, as volumes will be stronger than the first six months due to less disruptions due to public holidays and short working weeks.

Meanwhile, adult cattle slaughter for the 2024-25 financial year has been estimated at 8.79 million head by MLA.

MLA senior market information analyst Erin Lukey said this would be the second highest since 1979.

“Australian beef continues to experience strong global demand, likely due to herd rebuilds in competing export countries and ongoing evolving trade dynamics,” Ms Lukey said.

“Strong export demand, paired with high turnoff and production, created supply chain optimism.”