Ruqayyah Snyder
Australia is a major exporter of meat, with a sophisticated meat industry that has an excellent reputation for producing the best beef and lamb in the world. In 2023, Australia exported meat worth A$17.08 billion to over 100 countries. The United States, Japan, South Korea, and China are among the top export destinations, with China being the largest importer of Australian red meat. Other key markets include the United Kingdom, the Middle East, and Southeast Asia. Australia's meat exports are expected to continue growing, driven by strong demand from international consumers and competitive advantages in global markets.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of countries Australia exports meat to | Over 100 |
| Top 4 beef export trading partners | USA, Japan, South Korea, China |
| Australia's beef exports in 2024 | 75% |
| Australia's beef exports in 2022 | 67% |
| Australia's beef exports in 2025 (forecast) | 74.7% |
| Australia's beef exports in 2026 (forecast) | 73.9% |
| Average monthly beef export price to the USA | $9.26/kg |
| Average monthly beef export price to Japan | $8.29/kg |
| Number of countries that receive monthly statistics on Australian red meat exports | Over 57 |
| Top 3 states driving red meat production and exports | Queensland, Victoria, New South Wales |
| Australia's red meat exports destination with notable increase | United Kingdom |
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What You'll Learn
Australia's top meat export destinations
Australia exports meat to over 100 countries. In 2023, the country exported a total of 1.84 million shipped weight tonnes of red meat, worth A$17.08 billion.
China
Mainland China is the number one destination for Australian red meat exports. In 2023, China imported 206,193 tonnes of beef and 165,245 tonnes of lamb and mutton from Australia. Trade with China increased drastically in 2019 due to a combination of factors. China's affluent consumer base is forecast to continue expanding, along with a growing appreciation for high-quality red meat products.
United States
The United States is a major market for Australian grass-fed beef and lamb. Opportunities for Australia in the US centre around increasing the value of premium products such as chilled grass-fed beef and lamb.
Japan
Japan is the third-largest beef importer globally and the second-largest export customer of Australian beef. The Japanese market is unique for its highly sophisticated yet fragmented retail food market, where Australian beef and lamb are sold in retail and ready-to-eat formats. The "Japanese Full Set" price in meat markets refers to the wholesale price of a specific set of beef cuts typically exported to Japan, including loin, rib, and rump.
South Korea
South Korea is one of Australia's fastest-growing lamb markets. In 2023, Australia exported $279 million worth of sheep meat to South Korea.
Other top destinations for Australian meat exports include the United Kingdom, the Middle East, and Southeast Asia.
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China's demand for Australian meat
Australia exports meat to over 57 countries worldwide. China is one of the key destinations for Australian meat exports. Australian beef exports have been breaking records in 2025, with volumes up 15% year-on-year to reach 567,625 tonnes as of May. Grain-fed beef exports to the Greater China region are particularly notable, rising 41% to 57,524 tonnes. This increase is partly due to the trade war between the US and China, which has resulted in higher tariffs on American beef entering the Chinese market. Australian beef exports to China surged by nearly 40% in February and March, filling the gap left by the US.
China is the world's largest beef import market, and Australian beef is well-positioned to meet this demand. The growing base of affluent urban consumers in China is fuelling the demand for high-quality beef, and Australia is now the lone supplier of high-quality white fat marbled beef to the country. This has led to a positive outlook for Australian trade with China, with predictions that Australia will be the clear winner in the long run.
However, there are some concerns about the sustainability of this demand. While Australia is in a prime position to supply premium-grade meat to Chinese consumers, there are warnings that short-term gains could be lost if the Chinese economy slows down. Additionally, some commenters have noted that Australian beef lacks the marbling sometimes desired by Chinese consumers, which may affect its commercial viability in the long term. Nevertheless, the overall trend indicates strong demand for Australian meat in China, particularly in the short term.
The Australian states of Queensland, Victoria, and New South Wales are the top three drivers of red meat production and exports. The opening of several meat processing facilities in Victoria has contributed to the state's constant increase in red meat production and exports since 2023. This increased production capacity has played a role in meeting the demand for Australian meat in China and other international markets.
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The USA's role in Australia's meat exports
Australia exports meat to over 57 countries worldwide. China is Australia's largest trading partner, but the United States has been the largest market for Australian beef exports for most of the last 25 years. In 2024, the US accounted for 30.7% of Australia's beef exports, up from 17% in 2022.
The US-Australia beef trade has not always been smooth. In 2020, China banned four Australian red meat abattoirs from selling meat in the country, which led to Australia diversifying its export markets. In the same year, then-US President Donald Trump announced a 10% tariff on goods exported to the US from Australia, specifically singling out the Australian beef industry. Trump stated that Australia banned American beef due to biosecurity rules, and that the US would do the same. Australia had indeed banned US beef imports in 2003 due to an outbreak of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), or mad cow disease. Despite these tensions, the US continued to import large quantities of Australian beef, with 525,980 tonnes imported in 2024 to fill gaps in US supply.
The US and Australian beef industries have some key differences. The US produces higher-fat, grain-fed beef, while Australia's vast northern cattle herds produce lean, grass-fed beef. The Australian product is complementary to the domestic US product, and the two are often mixed in US ground beef and hamburgers. This relationship is mutually beneficial, as the US cannot meet domestic demand without Australian beef.
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Japan's unique market for Australian meat
Australia exports meat to over 57 countries worldwide. One of its key destinations is Japan, which is Australia's second-largest agricultural, forestry, and fisheries export market. Japan is also Australia's largest market for beef, with exports totalling $2 billion in 2017, and Australia is Japan's largest supplier of beef.
Japan's demand for Australian beef is high, with Australian beef well accepted by Japanese consumers. Australian beef is used in most hamburger patties, and many leading chefs in Japan use only Australian beef in their restaurants. Major retailers continue to support Australian beef, and the MLA is conducting a Spring Promotion with key supermarket chains nationwide. The MLA's 'Iron-Beauty' program is a unique marketing campaign designed to increase consumer awareness of the key nutritional attributes of beef, such as iron.
Japan's meat market is unique in that it is heavily dependent on imports. Japan's domestic beef production only meets about two-thirds of the country's demand, making it reliant on imports for the remaining third. Australian beef is particularly attractive to Japanese consumers due to its reputation for high quality and food safety. The Japanese are very supportive of their agriculture industry, but events like the 2011 tsunami and nuclear accident reminded consumers of the importance of diversifying their supply chains. This event also made Japanese consumers even more sensitive to food safety, which played in favour of Australian meat exports as the country has a strong reputation for food safety.
The Japan-Australia Economic Partnership Agreement (JAEPA) has also played a significant role in shaping Japan's unique market for Australian meat. Under JAEPA, Australia gained preferential access for a large volume of pork and chicken meat under country-specific quotas. Australian beef exports to Japan previously faced a high 38.5% tariff, which could jump to 50% under Japan's "global snapback" safeguard mechanism if imports of beef from all sources increased rapidly. However, with JAEPA, these tariffs were reduced or eliminated, making Australian meat more competitive in the Japanese market.
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Australia's meat exports to the UK
Australia exports meat to over 57 countries worldwide. While the UK is an important market for premium Australian meat products, it is a relatively small market compared to other countries. The Australia-UK Free Trade Agreement, which came into effect on May 31, 2023, has resulted in a significant increase in Australian red meat exports to the UK, with a 500% overall increase, including a 415% increase in beef exports and an 85% increase in sheep meat exports.
According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, Queensland, Victoria, and New South Wales are the top three states driving red meat production and exports. The availability of beef in other countries and strong demand from international consumers have impacted the price of Australian meat exports.
The UK imports around 30% of its red meat each year, and while Australia competes with other meat-producing countries like Ireland, Argentina, Poland, and France, it has made progress in servicing a small percentage of the UK's import needs.
In 2023, Australia exported an estimated 4,144 tonnes of beef and over 16,000 tonnes of sheep meat to the UK. This accounts for 2% of Australia's total red meat exports, with larger markets including the US, Japan, and the Middle East.
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Frequently asked questions
Australia exported meat to over 100 countries in 2023.
The top four beef export trading partners in 2024 were the USA, Japan, South Korea and China. China is the biggest importer of Australian red meat.
Australia exports beef and sheep meat, including lamb and mutton.
