NASHVILLE, Tenn. (RFD-TV) — Australia is on pace to set an all-time record for beef exports in 2025, fueled largely by soaring U.S. demand as American cattle numbers hit seven-decade lows. Data from Australia’s Department of Agriculture and Fisheries show September shipments totaling 139,000 tons, up 2.5 percent from August and nearly 22 percent higher than a year earlier. Analysts expect total 2025 exports to exceed 1.5 million tons, with U.S. orders driving much of the growth.
Through September, the United States had imported about 329,000 tons of Australian beef — up 21 percent year-over-year — as tight domestic supplies and tariff restrictions on Brazilian imports left buyers searching for additional product. Australian grain-fed beef, which makes up nearly a third of current exports, continues to gain traction in U.S. retail and food-service channels. For perspective, the U.S. typically imports between 1.5 and 1.7 million tons of beef annually from all sources, with Australia accounting for roughly one-quarter of that total.
Market analysts say expanded Australian volumes will help fill supply gaps but are unlikely to meaningfully lower U.S. retail prices, since packers and restaurants still face strong consumer demand and high processing costs. With U.S. herd rebuilding slow and imports rising, the trade dynamic underscores how global beef flows now hinge on weather, tariffs, and shifting supply chains.
Farm-Level Takeaway: Record Australian exports and rising U.S. imports reflect continued tight domestic cattle supplies — a reminder that herd recovery remains key to balancing future beef prices.
The Dairy Checkoff’s new approach to consumer marketing helps farmers bridge the gap between physical vs. digital touchpoints and deliver more end sales.
November 14, 2025 01:52 PM
·
USDA released the November WASDE Report on Friday, the first supply-and-demand estimate to drop since September, just before the 43-day government shutdown.
November 14, 2025 12:22 PM
·
U.S. Trade officials announced new deals with El Salvador, Guatemala, Ecuador, and Argentina, as well as a steep reduction in tariffs on Swiss imports.
November 14, 2025 11:58 AM
·
China’s cost advantage with Brazilian soybeans and vague public messaging leave U.S. export prospects uncertain heading into winter.
November 14, 2025 11:03 AM
·
Expanded aerial capacity strengthens the U.S.–Mexico buffer against screwworm, providing cattle producers with stronger protection heading into winter and reducing risk to herds along the southern tier.
November 14, 2025 10:34 AM
·
The request follows pressure from the American Sheep Industry Association (ASIA), which called for a formal investigation into whether lamb imports from Australia and New Zealand have cut into the U.S. market share.
November 13, 2025 02:22 PM
·
David Hardin with the Indiana Soybean Alliance discusses USMEF’s push to open new global export markets for both meat and soy-based feed.
November 13, 2025 01:10 PM
·
FD-TV’s own Tammi Arender caught up with Gregg Doud, President and CEO of the National Milk Producers Federation.
November 13, 2025 12:05 PM
·
With the U.S.–Vietnam agreement nearing signature, U.S. cotton, corn, and soybean exporters could lock in new demand lanes just as global supply shifts.
November 13, 2025 11:33 AM
·
