Exports continue record momentum

Lamb

Lamb exports fell 4% from January last year to 24,177 tonnes. Despite the decline, January 2025 export numbers still reached the second largest on record for January. This is broadly in line with the high slaughter volumes seen towards the end of 2024.

The United States (US) was the largest market for Australian lamb, with volumes rising 6% from last year to 6,020 tonnes. China was the second largest market, with exports falling 4% from last year to 3,414 tonnes, and exports to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) rose 14% from last year to 2,516 tonnes.

Frozen lamb exports eased by 6% from year ago levels to 13,147 tonnes, with chilled lamb exports also falling by 1% to 11,030 tonnes. Resilient chilled figures can be partially explained by strong volumes exported to the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) markets, which is primary a market for chilled lamb, and chilled carcases in particular.

Mutton

Australia exported 19,776 tonnes of mutton, the largest January export volume on record.

Following on from the strong finish to 2024, exports to China rose 16% from last year to 7,326 tonnes, making it the largest market for mutton. Following China, exports to Malaysia lifted 63% to 2,792 tonnes and exports to Saudi Arabia lifted 20% to 1,416 tonnes.

Goatmeat

Exports of Australian goatmeat lifted 67% from last year to 4,044 tonnes. This is the largest January goatmeat export figure on record, and remarkably, 41% higher than the previous January record (set in 2017).

This lift in exports was widely distributed; the US was the largest market with exports rising 13% to 1,517 tonnes, while exports to China lifted 183% to 764 tonnes and exports to South Korea lifted 79% to 620 tonnes. 

Beef

Australia exported 81,050 tonnes of beef in January, 7% more than January 2024 and the highest January beef volume on record. Grainfed exports fell 4% from last year to 22,786 tonnes, while grassfed exports lifted 13% to 58,283 tonnes.

The US remained the largest market for Australian beef, with exports lifting 22% from last year to 24, 685 tonnes. Exports to Japan fell 3% from last year to 15,806 tonnes and exports to China rose 6% to 14,908 tonnes.

Beef in Korea

After an unusually large increase in exports in December, January volumes to Korea dipped 9% to 10,596 tonnes. This dip comes after a record 2024, with Australia shipping 200,545 tonnes of beef to Korea, worth 2 billion Australian dollars, on the back of decreased US beef supply and increased availability of Australian products.

The Korean market presented a challenging environment in 2024, with a soft currency and retailers and foodservice operators switching between domestic and imported beef based on favourable supply, trading, and pricing conditions. Consumers remained cautious in spending and opted to dine out less and eat in more. This gave rise to convenient options in retail such as pre-marinated beef (e.g. bulgogi), using Australian chuck roll, short rib and clod cuts, and other home-ready meals. These cuts were historically US beef, but decreased US supply has opened opportunities for Australian beef across food service and retail channels.

Subsequently, Australia’s share of Korea’s imported beef market grew to 45% over 2024 (up from ), narrowing the US-Australia market share gap to 3pp from 12pp. Korea remained a top market for US beef exports in 2024, making up 23% of total US exports.

In 2025, Korean consumer sentiment may still be fragile, on the back of nations’ political uncertainty, and a large-scale aircraft accident at Jeju airport further exacerbated the anxieties of many. At the same time, further declines in US production will present opportunities for Australian beef exporters.

For further information about Australian red meat exports in Korea view the latest Korean market snapshot here.

Attribute content to: Tim Jackson, MLA Global Supply Analyst and Lily Yuan, MLA Market Insights Analyst