How did Australia’s September exports perform?

Beef exports

September exports of Australian beef rose 22% year-on-year (YoY) to 139,012 tonnes. This is the second-highest monthly export figure on record, resulting in the most recent quarter being the largest quarter for beef exports on record, at 425,018 tonnes.

The United States (US) remained the largest market for Australian beef, with exports lifting 13% YoY to 41,918 tonnes. Japan was the second largest market for the month, with exports lifting 33% YoY to 22,759 tonnes. This is notable because exports to Japan in 2025 have generally been below year-ago levels. The rise means exports to the four largest markets all lifted for the first time this year.

Source: DAFF, MLA

Goatmeat exports

Australian goatmeat exports lifted 8% YoY to 5,149 tonnes − the highest September volume on record. The US remained the largest market, with exports lifting 14% YoY to 2,835 tonnes. The largest export increase came from South Korea, where exports lifted 42% YoY to 1,200 tonnes. The largest decline came from Mainland China, where exports fell 70% YoY to 144 tonnes. This, however, is still well above long-term average figures.

Lamb and mutton exports

Overall, sheepmeat exports fell 22% YoY in September to 38,381 tonnes. This was across lamb and mutton with lamb falling 15% to 23,309 tonnes and mutton falling 31% YoY to 15,072 tonnes.

The largest lamb market remained the US, with exports rising 8% YoY to 7,325 tonnes while, conversely, mutton exports fell 8% YoY to 2,405 tonnes. Although Mainland China remains the largest market for Australian mutton, exports fell 72% YoY to 2,776 tonnes. Interestingly, lamb exports to Mainland China lifted 14% YoY to 4,399 tonnes, suggesting some amount of product switching was taking place.

This reduction in lamb and mutton exports largely mirrors declines in slaughter. According to the National Livestock Reporting Service (NLRS) slaughter report, September lamb slaughter declined 13% YoY, while sheep slaughter declined 28% YoY.

The Bottom Line 

• Beef and goatmeat exports continued at a record-setting pace in September.
• Lamb and mutton exports eased, mirroring the fall in slaughter numbers.