April 9, 2025
Australia's exports of beef to all markets hit 112,423 tonnes in March
Australian beef exports held up remarkably well in March; total export shipments to all markets last month reached 112,423 tonnes, only 5000 tonnes less than February, and 6000 tonnes higher than March last year.
The Port of Brisbane – by far the largest loading port for Australian beef exports – was closed for a week up to March 10 due to a cyclone, but evidently stevedores caught up quickly with the backlog once the facility reopened.
Another surprise in March export activity was the relatively small impact seen on trade into the United States. Anecdotally, Australian export meat traders were reporting lack of appetite among US customers to purchase beef during the back half of March, because of uncertainty surrounding the size of US import tariffs on Australian (and other imported) beef consignments to the US after April 2.
Australia's March shipments to the US remained high, at 32,300 tonnes. This is only 2,800 tonnes or 8% lower than February. Forward purchasing may have been a factor.
Last month was more than 5,700 tonnes or 21% higher than exports to the US in March last year, reflecting the big surge in trade currently being seen during the US domestic herd collapsing to 70-year lows following drought.
The completion of March trade provides a full first quarter export performance benchmark. Total beef export trade for the quarter reached 310,974 tonnes, more than 35,000 tonnes or 13% higher than the same period last year, and one of the largest first-quarter shipment levels on record.
Beef trade into other export customer countries apart from the US also held up well last month.
Trade into China remained solid, despite local economy difficulties. Tonnage last month reached 20,263 tonnes, only 1,100 tonnes or 5% short of February numbers, and 23% higher than March last year. Year-to-date, China has now taken 56,544 tonnes, up 22% on the first quarter last year. That's the largest first quarter volume to China ever seen, just edging out 2020.
Shipments to Japan last month reached 18,718 tonnes, down 1,400 tonnes or 7% on February, and 10% behind March last year. The first-quarter total has reached 54,369 tonnes, down 11% on the same three-month period last year.
South Korea remained a solid performer in March, taking 16,324 tonnes of Australian beef, down 8% on February, but still 12% better than March last year. Q1 volume reached 44,699 tonnes, up about 4,200 tonnes or 10%, partly due to declining supply out of the US.
Among secondary and emerging markets, results in March were mixed.
Indonesia continued its recent strong buying trend, taking another 5,086 tonnes, much the same as February, but well down on the massive +10,000 tonnes seen this time last year. Year-to-date trade has reached 10,880 tonnes, compared with 13,400 tonnes a year ago.
The Middle East region was reasonably quiet at 3,112 tonnes in March, slightly better than February but similar to this time last year. Year-to-date trade is at 8,043 tonnes, down 3% on last year.
Despite Australia's Federal Government's recent proclamation that "beef trade into the UK is up 500% since the free trade agreement was struck", that statement ignores the fact that that was off an extremely low base, and trade remains a fraction of what it once was. March volume reached just 677 tonnes, down 9% on February, but at least up 33% from dismal trade in March last year. First quarter exports to the UK sat at just 1,891 tonnes.
Canada has been a growth market for Australian export beef over the past year, accounting for 2,853 tonnes in March, down 5% on February, but slightly higher than March last year. First quarter numbers have reached 7,100 tonnes, but latest tariff impacts for live Canadian cattle and beef exported to the US may have some impact on future trade out of Australia.
In the absence of any free trade agreement, beef trade into the European Union reached 1,269 tonnes last month, down marginally from February.
- Beef Central
