Bumper red meat export results for May

May exports remained strong, with records in beef and lamb holding steady against year-ago levels.

Beef exports were the highest for May on record and the third highest ever month

Australian beef exports lifted 14% YoY (year-on-year) to 129,478 tonnes. This is a record volume for May and is the third-largest month on record.

The United States (US) remained the largest market for exported beef with exports increasing 23% YoY to 38,431 tonnes. However, China saw the largest export increase rising 55% YoY to 23,877 tonnes.

Grainfed and grassfed exports were both strong, with grainfed exports rising 19% YoY to 36,011 tonnes and grassfed exports lifting 12% YoY to 93,466 tonnes.

Exports for 2025 are at all-time year-to-date highs – 15% above 2024 numbers at 567,624 tonnes.

Lamb exports to the United Kingdom hit a new monthly all-time high

Sheepmeat exports were down in May 3% YoY to 56,562 tonnes. Lamb exports lifted by less than 1% to 36,754 tonnes, while mutton exports fell 9% YoY to 19,808 tonnes.

While the US remained the largest market, exports fell 12% YoY to 7,488 tonnes. China exports lifted 25% YoY to 6,515 tonnes and exports to Papua New Guinea lifted 44% YoY to 2,831 tonnes. Lamb exports to the United Kingdom (UK) reached 2,273 tonnes, which is the highest monthly volume on record and marks the first time on record the UK has been the fourth largest market.

Mutton exports to China fell by 5% YoY to 5,073 tonnes but remained the largest market. Exports to the broader Middle East and North Africa region fell by 23% YoY to 6,502 but lifted by 3% YoY to South-East Asia to 3,898 tonnes.

Goatmeat year-to-date exports stay strong

Exports of goatmeat fell 9% YoY in May to 4,247 tonnes, in large part due to a 39% YoY decline in exports to the United States. However, overall year-to-date goatmeat exports remain strong at 23,294 tonnes.

Attribute content to: Tim Jackson, Global Supply Analyst