Confirmed: in May 2028 Australia will no longer export live sheep

The Australian Parliament passed laws to end live sheep exports by sea starting from May 1, 2028. The Department of Agriculture will continue to regulate the export of live sheep by sea during the transition to ensure compliance with all requirements, including animal welfare. The sheep trade decreased by 33% in 2024, reaching 433,078 sheep exported. For the first time, Jordan became the main destination for Australian live sheep exports, receiving 30% of the total shipments. This change was mainly due to a 58% drop in exports to Kuwait, due to limitations in ship availability. The government provided a transition assistance package of about US$ 90 million and various subsidy programs, one of which is aimed at improving the demand for Australian sheep ...