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.
Jake Charleston, with Specialty Risk Insurance, joins us now for an industry update and advice for cattle producers as they consider options for managing the risks of a murky market.
November 25, 2025 01:26 PM
·
The National Milk Producers Federation will launch a new advocacy campaign to secure a final vote, urging House lawmakers to approve the bill as soon as they return from the Thanksgiving recess.
November 25, 2025 01:09 PM
·
Tyson’s Nebraska plant closure and falling Cattle on Feed numbers send cattle markets tumbling. Analysts warn of tighter supplies, weak margins, and rising global competition.
November 25, 2025 12:05 PM
·
One trader said the products entering the U.S. are primarily grind and trim, noting that the volume and type of beef, on its own, should not cause a major disruption. However, he says fund traders are reacting heavily to headlines rather than market realities.
November 24, 2025 02:42 PM
·
Shaun Haney, host of RealAg Radio, provides the latest insight into the timing, expectations, and broader considerations of the potential aid package, despite increasing exports to China.
November 24, 2025 12:42 PM
·
According to November’s Cattle on Feed Report, Nebraska now leads the nation in cattle feeding as tighter supplies continue to reshape regional market power and long-term price dynamics.
November 24, 2025 11:47 AM
·
Higher rail tariffs and tighter Canadian supplies will keep oat transportation costs firm into 2026.
November 24, 2025 11:22 AM
·
Lower U.S. and Mexican production means tighter sugar supplies and greater reliance on imports headed into 2026.
November 22, 2025 11:00 AM
·
Tyson’s closure reflects deep supply shortages in the U.S. cattle industry, tightening packing capacity, weakening competition, and signaling more volatility ahead for cow-calf producers and feedyards.
November 21, 2025 07:02 PM
·
