Goatmeat export update August 2026

The United States remains the dominant destination and accounted for 2,306 tonnes during August. That represented around 63pc of Australia’s total goatmeat exports for the month and was a sizeable increase from the 1,648 tonnes shipped there during July. US volumes were nevertheless 12pc below August last year. Against the five-year average, however, shipments remained a very healthy 41pc higher. The US therefore continues to underpin the Australian goatmeat export program, even as volumes retreat from the highs reached during 2025. The August result also represents an improvement from July, when US exports were 41pc below year-ago levels and only 8pc above the five-year average. That suggests the sharp July slowdown was at least partly temporary, with considerably more Australian product finding its way back into the US during August.

China presents a similar story when the different comparison periods are considered. Australia exported 344 tonnes of goatmeat to China during August, down 12pc from last year. However, shipments were 61pc above the five-year average. China therefore remains relatively small in outright volume compared with the US, but current trade is running well ahead of its historical August levels. The 344 tonnes shipped during August was slightly below the 381 tonnes recorded in July, so there has not been a major acceleration in absolute volumes despite the strong five-year comparison.

South Korea received 476 tonnes during August, broadly like the 492 tonnes exported during July. Compared with August last year, however, volumes were down 46pc and sat 27pc below the five-year average. That continues the weaker pattern evident in July, when South Korean shipments were 53pc below the previous year and 19pc below average. South Korea remains a meaningful destination for Australian goatmeat, but unlike the US and China, current flows are sitting below both recent and longer-term benchmarks.

Taiwan was also subdued as August exports reached 122 tonnes, compared with 102 tonnes in July. While there was some month-on-month improvement, shipments remained 34pc below last year and 20pc below the five-year average. The remaining export destinations collectively took 408 tonnes. This was down sharply, sitting 55pc below August last year and 10pc below the five-year average. It was also considerably lower than the 624 tonnes shipped to the “others” category during July.

The August figures highlight how concentrated the Australian goatmeat trade remains. More than six out of every ten tonnes exported during the month went to the US. Including South Korea and China and those three markets accounted for around 86pc of August shipments. That concentration can create some large monthly swings. When US demand moves, it has an outsized impact on Australia’s overall goatmeat export number.

August provides a good example, with the recovery in US shipments helping total exports climb by around 13pc from July despite weakness across several of the smaller destinations. The broader message is therefore more nuanced than the 27pc year-on-year decline suggests. Australian goatmeat exports have certainly eased from the very strong volumes recorded during 2025, and South Korea, Taiwan and the collection of smaller markets remain relatively soft. However, total August trade was still 18pc above its five-year average, while the US was 41pc above average and China 61pc above. The US remains the engine room of the trade and, for the moment, continues to absorb Australian goatmeat at volumes well above historical norms. With the smaller markets providing less support, though, Australia’s export performance remains particularly exposed to what happens in its largest customer over the remainder of 2026.