Beef export update September 2025
September 2025 - Beef export update
Australian total beef export volumes firmed over September, lifting by 3% over the month to hit 139,012 tonnes swt. This places the September flows 60% above the five-year average pattern for September. On a quarterly basis, Q3 2025 trade volumes increased by 16% from Q3, 2024 levels to see 425,017 tonnes shipped offshore.
A summary of the top trade locations, in order of top market share for 2025, is as follows:
USA – The beef trade to the USA increased by 3% during September to 41,767 tonnes. This represents export levels that are 106% above the five-year average levels for September. For the entire third quarter there was 125,547 tonnes of Aussie beef exported to the USA, which is 16% higher than the trade levels set in Q3, 2024 and 92% above the five-year average volumes for the third quarter of the year.
China – Australian beef exports to China dropped by 7% during September to 20,741 tonnes. Despite the easing trade flows this still represents export volumes that are 42% above the September average pattern, based upon the last five years of the trade. The Q3, 2025 total beef exports to China hit 73,989 tonnes, a 56% increase on the Q3, 2024 volumes and 71% higher than the five-year Q3 average flows.
Japan – Recovered from the dip seen in August to have beef export volumes rise 17% over September to reach 22,759 tonnes swt. This is 25% higher than the five-year average trend for September. Based upon the quarterly flows the Japanese market remains the softest of the top four trade destinations with Q3, 2025 volumes just 3% above the quarterly flows seen in Q3, 2024 and 10% above the five-year Q3 average flows.
South Korea – Aussie beef exports to South Korea held stable over September at 21,247 tonnes, these trade levels represent volumes 51% above the average September flows to South Korea, based upon the last five years of the trade. The Q3 trade volumes were reported at 63,611 tonnes, which is 18% higher than Q3 last year and 39% above the Q3 five-year average levels.
