Australian Beef Exports: Dead or Alive?

Abstract

Northern Australia's live cattle exports to Southeast Asia have increased dramatically in recent years. In Australia's current political environment calling for greater domestic value-adding, the issue of potential trade-offs between Australia's live cattle and slaughtered beef exports are examined. From an investigation into the origins of Australia's live cattle export industry and the production and marketing of beef in Australia's major live cattle importing countries, it is concluded that the two industries supply separate segments of the market. Trade-offs between imported Australian beef and beef derived from imported Australian cattle are not significant issues at present.