Demand for Australian beef continues to grow in Southeast Asia

Published Mar 17, 2025

Tridge summary

In 2024, Australia achieved historic export volumes, with beef demand reaching record levels, including a high of 173,327 tons valued at A$1.5 billion. The growth was led by feedlot-finished beef, which has tripled over the past decade, particularly to Singapore and Thailand. The Thailand-Australia Free Trade Agreement (TAFTA) has been pivotal, with Thailand becoming one of the fastest-growing markets for Australian beef, especially feedlot-finished beef, which has seen a 1,080% increase. Singapore's wealth and high meat consumption, and Thailand's vibrant food service sector and growing preference for quality meat, have contributed to this growth. Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, demand for chilled Australian grain-fed beef in Thailand remained strong, indicating a positive outlook for Australia's beef market in Southeast Asia.

Disclaimer: The above summary was generated by Tridge's proprietary AI model for informational purposes.

Original content

The region's beef demand was one of the key drivers of Australia's historic export volumes in 2024, with a record 173,327 tons exported, valued at A$1.5 billion. While growth was seen across all categories, a particular focus area was feedlot-finished beef, which has more than tripled over the past 10 years, totaling 24,246 tons in 2024. Growing purchasing power and increased consumer awareness of different types of beef are driving demand for grain-fed beef. One-third of beef exports to Singapore in 2024 were grain-fed products. With more than 80% of households with disposable incomes above $50,000 per year, Singaporeans are the wealthiest consumers in the region. This income level allows them to have the highest per capita meat consumption in the region and the second-highest beef consumption. Singaporean consumers perceive Australian beef as an "affordable premium" option suitable for everyday home cooking (Global Consumer Tracker, Singapore). In 2024, 77% of total exports ...

Source: Agromeat