Australia’s Red Meat Industry Sets New Benchmarks

Meat & Livestock Australia (MLA) has unveiled its latest State of the Industry Report, emphasizing a year marked by significant achievements within Australia’s red meat sector, spanning production, exports, and market engagement.

In the face of the challenging seasonal conditions transitioning from 2023 to 2024 across southern Australia, the red meat sector has achieved unprecedented production volumes in beef, sheepmeat, and goatmeat, while simultaneously expanding its global market share and supporting numerous jobs in Australia’s regional areas.

Government Support for the Red Meat Industry

The Hon Julie Collins MP, Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, remarked on the industry’s pivotal role as a cornerstone of the national economy, highlighting the trust it has established as a supplier of high-quality protein to millions globally.

“Despite challenging seasonal conditions in some regions, it’s really pleasing to see that the red meat industry is on such positive footing and that record production has been achieved by the sector as a whole,”

Minister Collins further emphasized the government’s commitment to policy settings that facilitate the ongoing success of Australian red meat locally and internationally. The partnerships fostered with the industry have enhanced market access to several countries, including the United States, China, Indonesia, Peru, Malaysia, and Vietnam, resulting in record-breaking export figures.

Insights from Industry Leaders

Michael Crowley, MLA Managing Director, noted that the report illustrates the sector’s resilience in dealing with variable seasonal conditions amid a surge in global demand, despite challenges from rising cost-of-living.

“2024 was a landmark year for Australia’s red meat and livestock sector,”

He celebrated the record production in lamb and goat meat while beef exports reached new heights and Australia’s presence in global markets continued to grow.

Export Performance

Australia’s red meat and livestock exports increased by 3.2 percent year-on-year in 2024, reaching a staggering $19.5 billion. The country maintained its ranking as the world’s largest exporter of sheepmeat and goatmeat and the second-largest beef exporter globally.

• Beef exports surged to 1.34 million tonnes shipped weight (swt), reflecting a 24% rise from the previous year.
• Lamb exports hit a record high of 359,299 tonnes swt, up 10% from 2023.
• Mutton exports saw a noteworthy increase to 255,090 tonnes swt, marking a 21.6% rise year-on-year.
• Goatmeat exports climbed remarkably to 51,489 tonnes swt, a staggering increase of 51.9%.

Live export figures also contributed significantly, with Australia exporting 766,044 cattle, up 13%, and 433,078 sheep, reflecting a 33% decline compared to last year.

Domestic Consumption Trends

Australia continues to rank as one of the world’s highest per capita consumers of red meat, reporting an average beef consumption of 22.4kg and sheepmeat at 7kg per person in 2024, consistently surpassing global averages.

Crowley added, “The enduring appetite for red meat in Australia is fostered by a strong tradition of quality and consumer trust in local produce.” Recent MLA research indicated that 92% of households purchased beef while 72% bought lamb, underscoring the vital role of red meat in Australian diets.

Financial Overview of the Industry

In the 2023-24 period, the red meat and livestock industry generated $77.1 billion in turnover, which constitutes 1.5% of Australia’s total key industry turnover. Although turnover witnessed a decline of 10.3% due to price contractions, the processing sector exhibited strength with an increase of 5.4%.

Production activities contributed to 45.8% of total turnover, followed by processing at 35.4% and wholesale/retail at 18.8%. The red meat and livestock industry employed approximately 462,272 people, with 197,512 directly involved in the industry.

Source: MLA. To view the full State of the Industry Report, click here