THE early release of 2025 Indonesian feeder cattle import permits and fresh orders for heavier cattle for Vietnam have led to a busy start to the new year for the northern cattle exporting trade.

In direct contrast to last year when Indonesian import permit delays kept the trade at a standstill until late February, the early allocation of 2025 cattle permits by Indonesia has allowed trucks and ships to keep moving virtually unhindered from December into January.

The Indonesian Government has allocated permits for 2025 for the import of 350,000 cattle.

While that volume is below the number of cattle exported from Australia to Indonesia in 2024 (530,000 head), some trade sources say importers are typically able to apply for additional permit allocations 100 days into the year. Others note there are no guarantees and with other countries such as Brazil moving closer to gaining access for live cattle to Indonesia’s market, permit allocations for the remainder of 2025 will be a case of “wait and see”.

December was a resurgent month for cattle exports, with almost 80,000 head shipped as Indonesian feedlots rushed to stock feedlots in time for the 2025 Ramadan religious fasting and feasting period, which takes place from late February to the end of March.

Scott Mawn, Elders Rural Services State Livestock Manager, Qld/NT, said two export orders are currently out for feeder/medium weight cattle from Townsville to Indonesia and for heavier cattle from Townsville to Vietnam, along with orders for feeder/medium weight cattle to be delivered to Cloncurry for export from Darwin to Indonesia.

The timing for delivery across the spread of orders ranges from next week through until the first week of February.

Pricing is also largely consistent across the orders at 330c per kilogram for cattle for Indonesia and Vietnam delivered Townsville and Cloncurry.

When transport costs are taken into account that equates roughly to a Darwin feeder steer price of 360c per kilogram.

Mr Mawn said that despite the large volumes exported in December, Indonesian importers were ordering cattle in January to cover their needs for Ramadan and beyond.

In addition to the normal feeder weight cattle of 280kg to 380kg, he said importers  were also seeking slightly heavier medium cattle, which did not have be fed as long to reach suitable market weights in time for the peak demand period.