September 6, 2023

Australia's beef exports hit record in August

Australian beef exports in August have hit a three-and-a-half year high, driven mostly by rapidly deteriorating seasonal conditions, which force more cattle to market.

Not since December 2019 – 44 months ago, towards the end of the continental scale drought – have monthly beef exports been this large.

Total beef exports to all destinations last month reached 102,351 tonnes, the largest number seen since December 2019 (115,688 tonnes) and the first time in recent memory the number has hit six figures.

Last month's export volume was up a further 5,000 tonnes or 5% on July, which itself was the largest export trade volume seen since early 2020.

August trade was up 10,200 tonnes or 11% on August last year when Australian beef herd rebuilding after drought was still hampering production volume.

The recent July-August export growth trend is reflected in higher rates of weekly beef slaughter, as producers under drought pressure continue to push large volumes of cattle to slaughter. The past four weeks of national beef kills have averaged more than 121,000 head, easily the busiest period for the year so far.

Calendar year to the end of August, Australian beef exports have now reached 678,036 tonnes, up 112,000 tonnes or almost 20% higher than the same eight months last year.

- Beef Central