AUSTRALIA’S beef exports surged to their highest monthly level on record in May, driven by high levels of production, export quota/tariff pressures adding urgency in some markets, and underlying global protein demand.

Volume to all export markets last month reached 152,438 tonnes, eclipsing the previously monthly record of just above 150,400t set in July last year.

Last month’s figure was up another 11,500t on an already booming April period, and almost 23,000t or 18pc higher than May last year.

All key export markets contributed to the record trade, with particularly big tonnage logged into  the United States, South Korea and China.

The United States last month took 47,033t, among the largest months seen in since the 2015 drought turnoff era. Trade was up 8600t or 22pc on May last year.

Calendar year to the end of May, the US has now taken just short of 194,000t, almost 26,300t or 15.7pc higher than last year, driven by the 75-year low in the US cattle herd and chronically low weekly production this year.

Greater China (including Hong Kong) took 27,760t last month, almost 3900t or 16pc higher than May last year, as Australia’s 2026 quota tally heads past 90pc and exporters/importers race to fill remaining tariff-free space.

Calendar year to date shipments to China have reached 133,332t, up 31,300t or 30pc on the same period last year.

South Korea was the big surprise packet in May, taking a near-record monthly figure of 29,886t of Australian beef, 17,400t higher than last year

Distortions created by the looming Safeguard tariff played a big role, with Australian new filling well over 80 percent of its 2026 allocation, before tariffs kick in. This has triggered heavier than usual trading volume, as importers and exporters race to get product landed before the quota triggers.

It’s not uncommon for Australia to trigger its South Korea quota, but it typically happens much later in the year, meaning there is only a relatively short period of additional tariff (24pc for out-of-quota shipments) before the new annual quota arrives, and the clock re-sets. Last year it was triggered in mid-September, and the year before that, in late October.

Calendar year to date, Korea has already taken just over 109,400t of Australian beef – slightly ahead of Japan – compared with 82,184t for the same period last year. Lack of US product for export is part of the reason.

Trade into Japan last month was steady at 21,160t, some 7pc higher than May last year. Again, lack of export competition out of the US was a factor.

Year-to-date, Japan is responsible for 101,000t of Australian chilled and frozen beef, up 5pc on last year.

Among smaller and emerging markets, it was a mixed bag for Australian beef export performance.

Labouring under the burden of import permit access issues,  Indonesia took 3285t of Australian beef last month, barely half the volume seen this time last year. Year to date tells a similar story, with tonnage to the end of May reaching 12,023t, only 53pc of the volume seen in the first five months last year.

Canada continues to shine as a relatively recent destination for Australian beef. May trade hit 4200t, down a little on April (4744t) and May last year 5140t). Calendar year to date trade has reached 19,800t, up 31pc on last year.

As farmer resistance to the arrival of more Australian beef in the United Kingdom starts to wane, volumes have steadily grown. May trade reached 2360t, up 31pc on the same time last year. Year to date trade has reached 9637t, well over twice the volume seen in the first five months of 2025.