December 9, 2013

Australia's Darwin port is set to break record for live cattle exports in 2013 due to increased demand from Vietnam and Indonesia.

It's expected that more than 80,000 head will leave the Top End port in December, taking the yearly total to around 367,000 (up from 247,000 last year).

Terry O'Connor, from the Darwin Port Corporation, says the line-up of cattle trucks in the last couple of days has been "extraordinary".

Luke Bowen, from the Northern Territory (NT) Cattlemen's Association, added that the record-breaking year is good news for the industry.

In the Northern Territory parliament, Chief Minister Adam Giles said that his government had "restarted the live cattle trade".

The trade to Vietnam has emerged this year as a great alternative market for northern producers, with over 35,000 head exported from Darwin to date.

The increased demand from Indonesia has seen prices soar, with feeder steers now fetching up to US$2.05/kg (US$2.05).