Economic impact

In 2025, the total value of livestock exported from Australia was approximately $1.09 billion. This includes $1.03 billion in cattle exports, $49.6 million in sheep exports, $4.9 million in goat exports and $2.3 million in buffalo.

Economic modelling has found that Australian livestock exports generate about 13,000 jobs across Australia and that a cessation of the trade would impose a net cost of about $300 million annually on Australian livestock producers.

Live cattle export is a key driver of sustainable economic opportunities in regional, rural and Indigenous communities with producers retaining approximately 40-57% of the revenue generated in Australia by live cattle exports.

Livestock exports are particularly important to northern Australia given the significant distance to major feedlot operations and processors which are located primarily in the eastern states and south-western WA. It also provides market competition and price stability in periods of high turn-off such as leading into a drought.

The trade accounts for approximately 70% of cattle sales in northern Western Australia, and more than 90% in parts of the Northern Territory.

Approximate total value of Australia's livestock export revenue

Number of jobs generated across Australia, primarily in regional, rural and Indigenous communities.

Minimum net cost to producers if live trade ceased