In 2017, Australia’s export of live cattle (beef and dairy) totalled 878,190 head and was valued at A$ 1.2 billion FOB. This was a 22% decline from the number exported in 2016.

Of the cattle exported, 826,214 head (94%) were beef cattle for breeder, feeder and slaughter purposes (A$ 1.1 billion FOB) and 51,976 head (6%) were dairy cattle (A$ 101 million FOB).
 
The largest importing markets of Australian live beef cattle were:

• Indonesia taking 507,607 head (61.4% of all beef cattle exports);
• Vietnam taking 166,739 head (20.2% of all beef cattle exports); and
• China taking 40,638 head (4.9% of all beef cattle exports).

(Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics)

The latest monthly cattle export statistics by country of destination and by port of loading are available in the publication LiveLink (produced by Meat and Livestock Australia) that can be accessed here.

A yearly summary of all cattle export statistics, by destination, can be downloaded here.

Statistics for total cattle exports in previous years, from the Australian Government Department of Agriculture and Water Resources, can be found here.

Refer to the Dairy Cattle Statistics page for more information regarding live dairy cattle export volumes.