Australian beef exports once again reach record level in may

The United States remained by far Australia's largest export market, while demand from China and South Korea continued to accelerate. Exports to the UK and EU also expanded despite quota restrictions.Australian beef exports totalled 152,438 tonnes in May 2026, up 17.7% compared with May 2025. This can be derived from the Australian red meat export destination data, using total beef and veal volumes and combining split markets such as the United States into one total figure. May shipments increased from 129,477 tonnes in May 2025, showing firmer year-on-year demand across Australia’s major beef export markets.US remains Australia’s largest beef destinationThe United States remained the largest destination for Australian beef exports in May 2026. Despite exports to the country already being at record levels last year, shipments to the US totalled 47,034 tonnes, up 22.4% compared with May last year. This was equal to an increase of around 8,600 tonnes, with May 2025 shipments at 38,431 tonnes. The US accounted for approximately 31% of Australia’s total beef exports in May, confirming its position as the dominant single market when the east and west coast destination lines are combined.For January to May, Australian beef exports to the United States reached 193,990 tonnes, up 15.7% compared with the same period in 2025. Shipments increased by approximately 26,300 tonnes year on year. The result shows that the stronger May performance was not isolated, but part of a broader increase in Australian beef exports to the US market.South Korea records the strongest growthMeanwhile, South Korea was the strongest growth market for Australian beef in May 2026. Exports to South Korea totalled 29,886 tonnes, compared with 17,409 tonnes in May 2025. This represented an increase of 71.7% year on year, or approximately 12,500 tonnes. The increase made South Korea the second-largest destination for Australian beef in May and the biggest single contributor to the monthly year-on-year gain.For January to May, exports to South Korea reached 109,404 tonnes, up 33.1% compared with the same period in 2025. This was an increase of around 27,200 tonnes year on year. The result confirms South Korea’s growing role in Australia’s beef export mix and shows that the May increase was supported by a broader upward trend.China continues to expandAustralian beef exports to China also continued to grow in May. Shipments totalled 27,187 tonnes, up 13.9% compared with May 2025. This is no longer just a recovery of exports to China, but an actual new record level. This was an increase of around 3,300 tonnes, with exports rising from 23,877 tonnes last May. China was the third-largest market in May 2026, behind the United States and South Korea, and ahead of Japan.For January to May, Australian beef exports to China reached 133,332 tonnes, up 30.7% compared with the same period in 2025. Shipments increased by approximately 31,300 tonnes, making China the largest growth contributor in the calendar-year data and once again placing exports at record levels. Although South Korea recorded the sharpest monthly rise, China remained the strongest broader growth market in the first five months of the year.Japan remains large and stableJapan remained one of Australia’s largest beef export destinations in May 2026. Exports totalled 21,160 tonnes, up 6.9% compared with May 2025. Still, exports were relatively low compared with previous years. On average, shipments were 3.4% lower than the 10-year average. Shipments increased by approximately 1,400 tonnes year on year, from 19,803 tonnes last May. The growth was more moderate than in South Korea, China or the United States, but Japan’s importance lies in its size and stability.For January to May, Australian beef exports to Japan reached 100,115 tonnes, up 4.4% compared with the same period in 2025. Japan therefore remained a core market for Australian beef, even though growth was less aggressive than in the other major destinations.Southeast Asian demand was mixedDemand across Southeast Asia was more mixed. Indonesia recorded the sharpest decline among the main destinations, with exports falling to 3,285 tonnes, down 45.9% compared with May 2025. This was a decrease of around 2,800 tonnes year on year. The Philippines also moved lower, with exports falling 31.5% to 2,140 tonnes, while Taiwan declined 15.8% to 2,580 tonnes.Thailand moved in the opposite direction. Australian beef exports to Thailand reached 2,754 tonnes, up 27.4% year on year. This partly offset the weaker volumes to Indonesia and the Philippines, but not enough to change the broader picture of mixed regional demand. UK and EU exports keep growing from a smaller baseExports to the United Kingdom and European Union continued to grow, although both remained much smaller markets than the United States, South Korea, China and Japan. Australian beef exports to the United Kingdom totalled 2,360 tonnes in May 2026, up 30.6% compared with May last year. For January to May, shipments to the UK reached 9,637 tonnes, more than double the level recorded in the same period of 2025. The growth has been facilitated by Brexit, which made Britain independent from strict EU quotas.Exports to the European Union totalled 2,923 tonnes in May 2026, up 31.9% year on year. Calendar-year exports to the EU reached 12,672 tonnes, up 69.9% compared with January to May 2025. The result shows that Europe is becoming a stronger destination for Australian beef, and this is very telling. Quotas and tariffs for trade between the trading blocs may become more lenient in the future, but they are still very strict. This indicates that price differences remain large enough to justify paying the hefty import tariffs.