Australian live cattle exports to south-east Asia fall sharply amid rising costs and market strain in 2026

Australia’s live cattle trade to south-east Asia experiences a significant 29 per cent decline in the first half of 2026, driven by higher prices, currency issues, and shifting regional demand, with Indonesia remaining the primary market.

Australia’s live cattle trade to south-east Asia has entered the second half of 2026 under clear pressure, with first-half exports down 29 per cent year on year to 265,659 head, according to Beef Central’s August regional report. Indonesia remained the dominant buyer, taking 204,526 head, or 77 per cent of shipments, but the market is now feeling the strain of higher cattle prices, a weaker rupiah and an early Ramadan-Lebaran cycle that pulled some demand into late 2025.

The squeeze is increasingly visible in Indonesia itself. Beef prices are rising into the dry season, yet the government’s reference-price cap is leaving feedlots unable to finish cattle profitably. Beef Central said importers had brought in only 180,371 feeder cattle by late June, just 25.8 per cent of the annual target, and that some lots are now being discounted as buyers seek longer payment terms.

Elsewhere, the region is still investing in longer-term self-sufficiency. Djarum-backed Savoria has started work on a major dairy project in Brebes, while Jakarta’s city-owned meat company is planning an integrated cattle complex near Tangerang.

Vietnam showed a faint recovery in July, taking its first Australian slaughter cattle since January. Thailand, meanwhile, is allocating funds to prepare for the SAT-1 foot-and-mouth risk as neighbouring borders tighten.

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