Source: MLA, DAFF. Click on image for a larger view.

WHILE there were some delays in accessing grainfed beef export performance figures when we published our earlier overall June beef exports volume report ten days ago (click here to access), the now-available data shows some dramatic swings in Australia’s grainfed trade last month.

China (red line in the graph published above) dropped dramatically during June – in advance of, and immediately after the triggering of Australia’s 205,000t China quota for the year. China back at the start of January imposed a 55pc tariff on Australian imported beef exceeding the annual quota. Other exporting countries like Brazil also face tariff and quota challenges in China this year, but Australia was the first to hit its trigger.

As can be seen on the graph, in percentage terms, China has been Australia’s largest grainfed market since late 2024, often close to, or close to 40pc of total grainfed export trade.

June saw that figure collapse to about 12pc, with some of the shortfall being made up by Japan (light blue – about 30pc of total grainfed volume) and South Korea (lime green – about 25pc), and smaller rises to other destinations.

Some months earlier, Australian grainfed supply chains began adjusting their cattle inventory in preparation for the lapse in China business, in some cases re-introducing HGP implants to optimise performance (China is an HGP-free market for Australian cattle).

The graph below plotting overall export beef trade (grain and grassfed) in percentage terms shows a similar trend, with the United States (yellow), South Korea, Japan and Southeast Asia all taking larger percentage volume in June, in response to the sharp drop-off to China.