A summary of 2023 Australian live exports

Cattle exports by sea Live cattle exports by sea lifted 12% or 73,612 from 597,179 in 2022 to 670,791 in 2023. This is the first annual lift in export numbers since 2019, but remains 27% below the 914,024 head five-year average. December was a positive month for the live export trade, totaling 86,186 head for the month. This was up 44% on November figures (59,816) and up 49% on December 2022 numbers (57,926) making it the largest export month for 2023, and the largest December figure since 2019. Indonesia remained the top importer of live cattle by sea in 2023, with 359,305, or 54% of live exports going into their predominantly feeder market. These numbers remained relatively stable year-on-year, rising just 6%. Following reports in October and November of cattle being held up at Australian ports for lesions, despite no lumpy skin disease present in Australia, exports to Indonesia rebounded 144% month-to-month in December. Vietnam imported 19% of total live cattle exports by sea, ...