Demand for Australian beef rises 75% as drought leaves the US herd at its lowest level since the 1950s

The United States has an “insatiable appetite” for beef and is currently Australia’s biggest export market, ahead of Japan and China. In the first half of this year, Australia exported 155,430 tonnes of beef to the US, which represents a 75% increase compared to the same period last year and the highest value since 2015. And it's not just about grinding beef to make burgers. According to Meat and Livestock Australia (MLA), the US has also become our largest market for sirloin cuts such as Scottish fillets and filet mignon. After three years of drought, the U.S. cattle herd is at its lowest point since the 1950s. Domestic beef supply is down, but demand remains strong in a country famous for its love of burgers. Simon Quilty, an analyst at Global Agritrends, said the US has been forced to import large quantities of beef. “They have an insatiable appetite and are sucking up as much lean meat as possible in the world to mix with their own meat [to make burgers],” he said. “Ground ...