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Beef exports spring

05 October 2017

Australian beef exports in September totalled almost 88,000 tonnes shipped weight (swt) – a 17% increase year-on-year. Increased cattle turn-off, driven by ongoing poor seasonal conditions largely underpinned the rise in shipments compared to last year.

Historically high numbers of cattle on feed continues to be reflected in the volume of grainfed beef exports, which totalled 24,000 tonnes swt in September – albeit back slightly from the record figure seen the month prior (26,400 tonnes swt). For the calendar year-to-date, grainfed exports have exceed 200,000 tonnes swt for the first time, helping to offset the modest decline in grassfed exports for the year-to-September.

Total beef exports for the calendar year-to-date now stand at 753,000 tonnes swt, a decline of 2% year-on-year.

September Exports

  • Beef exports to Japantotalled 23,500 tonnes swt – a 15% increase year-on-year
  • Shipments to the US totalled 20,325 tonnes swt – a 46% higher year-on-year
  • Exports to Korea declined 5% year-on-year, to just under 14,000 tonnes swt.
  • Beef exports to China increased 11 % year-on-year, to just above 8,000 tonnes swt.
  • Shipments to the EU lifted 17% year-on-year, to just under 2,000 tonnes swt
  • Exports to Indonesia were recorded at 5,000 tonnes swt – 26% higher year-on-year

Click here for the latest export trade summaries