How much beef does Australia produce and export?
Australia is the 5th largest producer of beef: 2.6 million tonnes in 2024, 3.7% of the world's 69.6 million tonnes (FAOSTAT). It is the 2nd largest exporter by value: $5.7 billion in 2024, 15% of world exports of frozen beef (HS 0202) (CEPII BACI). Its biggest customer is the United States, which takes 30% of its beef exports by value.
All about beef · All about Australia · Beef price history
Australia's beef production
| World rank | Production (tonnes) | Share of world | Ten-year growth | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | 2.6 million tonnes | 3.7% | -0% a year | 2024 |
FAOSTAT Crops and livestock products (QCL), 2024. World total is the sum of reporting countries.
Share of world output over time
| 1990 | 2000 | 2010 | 2020 | 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.2% | 3.6% | 3.6% | 3.3% | 3.7% |
Australia's beef exports
| World rank | Export value | Share of world exports | Quantity (tonnes) | Average value per tonne | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | $5.7 billion | 15% | 1.1 million t | $5,285 | 2024 |
CEPII BACI international trade database (HS22, V202601), HS 0202 (Meat of bovine animals, frozen).
Where Australia's beef goes
| Destination | Value | Share of Australia's exports |
|---|---|---|
| United States | $1.7B | 30% |
| China | $1.1B | 20% |
| South Korea | $949M | 17% |
| Japan | $603M | 11% |
| Indonesia | $338M | 6% |
How much beef Australia uses
Australia's domestic supply of beef was 712 thousand tonnes in 2023, 1% of the world's. Food supply was 27 kg per person a year, 9th highest of 142 countries with a million or more people. It produced 314% of what it used (self-sufficiency) and imported 2%. FAO's item is "Bovine meat". Consumption · Self-sufficiency.
The beef price Australia sells into
The benchmark price, Australia/New Zealand, CIF US ports, was $6.86/kg in September 2026, down 1% over twelve months. Its five-year volatility is 12% a year, calmer in 35% of its earlier five-year windows. A single country's export price can differ from the benchmark: see trade price against benchmark. Monthly averages lag the market and are not investment advice. Beef price history.
Cite as: Commodity Origins, "Australia beef: production, exports and prices", https://commodityorigins.com/countries/AUS/beef/ (CC BY 4.0). Rankings count only countries reporting to the sources named; this page is shown only for top-five producers or exporters with at least 3% of the world total. Report an issue with this page.