Australian Beef Exports Hit Record High Despite Trump Tariffs

(Bloomberg) — Australia’s beef exports have already hit a record high this year on strong demand from the US, according to Meat & Livestock Australia, with no sign of a rebuild in the American cattle herd.

Shipments were at 1.4 million tons in the first 11 months, 15% higher than at the same point last year, the industry group said in a statement. That’s ahead of the previous full-year high of 1.34 million in 2024.

Most Read from Bloomberg

The US remained the biggest export market, taking almost a third of Australia’s beef, despite the Trump administration imposing a 10% tariff on the country’s meat that’s since been removed. American beef imports have surged in recent years as domestic herd numbers shrunk to 70-year lows and red meat prices in supermarkets jumped. President Donald Trump said in November that he would cut levies on beef imports.

“While the tariff was in place, Australian beef exports remained strong and resilient due to exceptionally strong US demand” that was exacerbated by historically low American beef production, MLA said in the statement.

Australian exports of beef to the US were at 412,000 tons in the year through November, up 17% annually from the same point in 2024. Shipments to China jumped 43% to 243,000 tons, while Japan and South Korea also took more red meat. Australian beef production is also expected to hit a record in 2025, despite reduced herd sizes in southeastern states due to years of drought.

Global beef demand is surging and Australia is well-positioned to take advantage of this momentum into 2026, MLA General Manager for International Markets Andrew Cox said in the statement.

Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek

©2025 Bloomberg L.P.