Global appetite drives Australian beef and goatmeat exports to new highs

Australia has officially broken the record for the highest volume of beef exported in a calendar year, with year-to-date exports reaching 1.398 million tonnes, up 15% year-on-year.

This milestone reflects broad-based global demand for high-quality Australian red meat and the strength of the industry’s domestic productive capacity. 

The United States remains Australia’s largest beef export destination, with 412,068 tonnes shipped so far this year, up 17% YoY. 

This growth is particularly significant given the implementation of a 10% tariff on Australian exports including beef, which has since been removed. 

While the tariff was in place, Australian beef exports remained strong and resilient due to exceptionally strong US demand and exacerbated by historically low domestic beef production.

This demonstrates the premium positioning of Australian beef and the willingness of US buyers to pay for quality. 

Japan and Korea continued to deliver steady demand, up 2% and 10% YoY respectively, while other markets across Asia and the Middle East also contributed to the record-breaking year.

Grainfed beef exports also hit a record, totalling 403,860 tonnes, an increase of 19% year-on-year, underscoring the premium positioning of Australian grainfed beef internationally.

Goatmeat exports reach new heights

In addition to beef, goatmeat exports have set a new all-time record, with 54,699 tonnes shipped year-to-date, up 16%. November 2025 was the biggest month ever for goatmeat exports, with 5,923 tonnes exported globally.

Goatmeat plays an increasingly important role in Australia’s red meat portfolio, particularly in meeting the needs of diverse consumer bases across North America, Asia, and the Middle East.

Its versatility and alignment with cultural preferences make it a key growth category, helping Australian producers tap into expanding global protein demand.

According to Meat & Livestock Australia’s (MLA) General Manager for International Markets, Andrew Cox, the record-breaking results highlight the competitiveness of Australian red meat on the global stage.

“These results reflect the strength of Australia’s production systems and the commitment of our producers,” Mr Cox said.

“Australian red meat continues to be trusted and valued across a wide range of international markets, and we’re well positioned to build on this momentum.”

While beef and goatmeat exports have soared, lamb and mutton exports softened slightly compared to last year, though lamb performed marginally better than expected thanks to a strong spring flush and robust demand.

Lamb exports reached 316,065 tonnes year-to-date, down 5%, while mutton totalled 193,641 tonnes, down 16%.

November lamb exports were 26,337 tonnes, slightly below last year, with strong growth into North America where shipments rose 15% year-on-year to 8,730 tonnes, including 7,732 tonnes to the US. 

Greater China also recorded solid lamb demand, with November exports up 11% year-on-year to 5,204 tonnes, and year-to-date volumes up 19% to 61,053 tonnes.

In contrast, lamb exports to the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) fell sharply, down 27% year-to-date to 62,847 tonnes, while mutton exports to MENA bucked the trend, rising 3% year-to-date to 60,256 tonnes, driven by strong demand from Saudi Arabia and the UAE in November.

MLA’s international marketing programs play an important role in building awareness and preference for Australian red meat across major markets, including the US, China, Japan, and Korea.

“Global demand for beef is surging, and Australia is perfectly positioned to meet this momentum into 2026 thanks to record production levels and our reputation for integrity and quality,” Mr Cox said.