Australian beef exports continue to climb - MLA
Beef exports up 14% over last year
13 June 2023
1 minute read
By: Australian red meat exports rose in May, with beef exports the strongest since 2020 and lamb recording the highest figures since 2019, according to a recent report from Meat and Livestock Australia.
Australia exported 91,479 tonnes of beef in May, 27% more than April and 14% more than May last year. Grain-fed exports fell slightly from year-ago levels to 27,791 tonnes, while grass-fed exports rose by 30% to 63,688 tonnes.
The pattern of increased grass-fed exports and lower grain-fed exports can be seen in the export mix; exports to the United States, a key market for lean, grass-fed beef, were up by 63% year-on-year to 17,957 tonnes, while exports to Japan (which imports considerably more grain-fed beef) fell by 24% from year-ago levels.
Exports to South-East Asia grew by 14% to 10,384 tonnes, largely due to a 49% increase to Indonesia, the largest market in the region. Meanwhile, exports to the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region fell by 3% to 2,584 tonnes due to a 26% decline in Saudi Arabia, which was largely offset by a 41% increase in exports to the United Arab Emirates.
China remains the largest market for Australian beef, where exports rose 44% year-on-year to 19,569 tonnes.
