Morocco: The new market for Australian livestock

A new overseas export market has opened for livestock producers, amid the pending live sheep export phase out by 2028.

A new live export market has opened for Australian livestock producers, amid the pending live sheep export phase out by 2028.

The Australian Livestock Exporters’ Council announced on Tuesday a new protocol had been signed giving Australian livestock exporters access to the Moroccan market, who are attempting to replenish their local herds that have been decimated by extended drought.

Australian Livestock Exporters' Council chief executive officer Mark Harvey-Sutton.

ALEC chief executive Mark Harvey-Sutton said the Moroccan agricultural minister had “personally conveyed to us” the importance of the live export trade to the country’s food security, and said he could potentially see shipments begin in the next few months.

“I was in Morocco in November last year when I met with importers, and they’re very enthusiastic about getting the trade going,” he said.

“Morocco has a very well established meat processing industry, it’s very modern. Exporters would still need to ensure importers are compliant with Exporter Supply Chain Assurance System standards, but that could happen pretty quickly.”

Mr Harvey-Sutton said Morocco would be looking for mainly Australian sheep but also cattle, and said transport through the Red Sea wouldn’t be a significant issue, with export ships to travel up the west coast of Africa instead.

This comes amid the federal government’s controversial plan to phase out live sheep exports by May 2028.

Mr Harvey-Sutton said the renewed push from Morocco for Australian livestock put paid to assertions livestock exports were a ‘dying trade’, and that following the opening of the Saudi Arabia market last year, there were two or three other countries in the region that would be interested in commencing trade.

“Now that we’ve got these two major markets open, we’ll see what else we can do over the next little while, and have the live sheep ban overturned,” he said.

Agriculture Minister Julie Collins. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

This comes as federal Agriculture Minister Julie Collins meets this week with UK and European counterparts to advocate for Australia’s agricultural exports, and discuss EU policies affecting our key exports.

The government announced the Australia-UK Free Trade Agreement resulted in beef and veal exports to the UK soaring 339 per cent in 2023-24, as well as increases in exports of natural honey (55 per cent), sugar (23 per cent), lamb (26 per cent) and mutton (37 per cent).

“The FTA has been a win-win for two-way agricultural trade with increases both ways on previous averages, and stronger co-operation on issues such as sustainable production and animal welfare,” Ms Collins said.