The USA was the largest market for Australian beef and lamb, while China was the largest market for mutton
Australia’s beef exports reached a new monthly record in July, reaching 129,998 tonnes, which is 5 per cent higher than the previous record set in March 2015. This increase was influenced by supply dynamics discussed in the Global Beef Market Update. The US slowdown created space in most markets, while substantial South American production limited exports into others.
According to Meat and Livestock Australia, the US was the largest beef market for Australia, with exports increasing by 61 per cent from July last year, reaching 38,540 tonnes, accounting for 30 per cent of the Australian export total. Exports to Japan and Korea also rose significantly by 48 per cent and 20 per cent year-on-year, reaching 26,297 tonnes and 20,331 tonnes respectively.
Exports to China decreased by 3 per cent compared to July 2023 but increased by 23 per cent from June this year, reaching 16,249 tonnes. Brazil is the main imported beef supplier to China, with consistently high exports throughout 2024.
Lamb exports rose by 21 per cent from July last year to 33,590 tonnes, with the US being the largest lamb market for the month, receiving 7,943 tonnes, 31 per cent higher than last year. The broader Middle East and North Africa region also saw a doubling of lamb exports from July 2023.
Mutton exports increased by 44 per cent from July last year to 18,519 tonnes. China remained the largest mutton market, but exports to other markets such as Malaysia, Saudi Arabia, the USA, and the UAE also saw significant increases, diversifying Australia’s mutton export mix.
