Australia’s total beef exports in 2025 soared past 1.5 million metric tons (mt), surpassing previous records, according to data from the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF).
On an annual basis, export (customer access only) volumes rose a solid 15.0% year-on-year (YOY) or 202,189 mt.
The US
Australia leveraged the United States’s (US) multi-decade herd lows to expand shipments to the world’s largest beef market, making the US its top export destination in 2025.
The White House tariff adjustments had little impact on the burger-hungry 340.1 million population, while New Zealand’s faltering production and higher US tariffs gave Australia a clear competitive edge.
Strong domestic output allowed Australia to seize additional market share throughout 2025 amid global trade pressures.
China
Beyond supply constraints, the US-Sino trade war promoted the rapid expansion of Australian grain-fed shipments to China. The market became Australia’s fastest-growing by volume in 2025.
US tariffs and delayed import licenses sidelined American supplies, allowing Australia to capture a larger share. However, its 2025 safeguard quota was exhausted by late July, limiting further growth.
Japan
Reduced US supply prompted Japan to rely more heavily on Australian beef, making Australia the country’s largest supplier. Despite this, export growth to Japan remained modest compared with other markets.
As the world’s third-largest beef importer, Japan leaned on shipments in 2025 to offset stagnant domestic production. Bloated inventories, slower consumption, and rising inflation weighed on overall import demand. Higher global beef prices and a weak yen further dampened appetite for imported beef, pushing Japan’s beef consumption to a 23-year low.
Korea
Like Japan, Korea became increasingly reliant on Australian beef to replace grain-fed US supplies. Lower domestic Hanwoo output and the peninsula’s “livelihood recovery consumption coupon” program launched on July 21 also boosted overall beef demand.
Television (TV) campaigns and celebrity endorsements, including Netflix’s hit show Culinary Class Wars, further drove consumer interest in premium Australian cuts.
Rest of World
Exports to Southeast Asia fell overall in 2025, primarily due to delayed import permits from key buyer Indonesia. Other markets, including Thailand and the Philippines, posted solid growth, supported by a fast-growing middle class and strong tourism demand.
Australia sustained strong export growth in the Middle East, outpacing South American competitors that lack a premium grain-fed offering.
Exports to the United Kingdom (UK) surged to a record 16,865 mt in 2025, driven by the Australia-United Kingdom Free Trade Agreement (A-UK FTA) launched in May 2023.
In the month of December 2025, exports totalled 147,532 mt, up 12.0% month-on-month (MOM) or 15,827 mt, in line with historical trends as suppliers frontloaded shipments ahead of China’s and Korea’s safeguards. Newly released import permits from Indonesia also contributed to the increase.
Co-authored by:
Joe Muldowney
Expana1-732-240-5330 ext. 244,
[email protected]
Bill Smith
Expana
1-732-240-5330 ext. 265
[email protected]
Image source: Getty
Written by Junie Lin
