Australian red meat exports reach record highs
Australia exported a record 2.24 million tonnes of red meat to 104 countries in 2024, the highest volume ever recorded, according to Meat & Livestock Australia (MLA).
Significant increases were seen across all categories: beef exports rose to 1.34 million tonnes, lamb to 359,299 tonnes, mutton to 255,098 tonnes, and goatmeat to 51,489 tonnes.
The United States was the largest market for beef, lamb, and goatmeat, while China led in mutton imports. Increased domestic supply, driven by herd and flock maturity, combined with favourable global market conditions and Australia’s strong reputation for quality, supported the growth.
MLA noted that 87% of exports went to countries with free trade agreements, emphasising the importance of trade access in facilitating this record-breaking performance.
