Australian beef exports have been breaking records in 2025, with volumes up 15% year-on-year to reach 567,625 tonnes as of May. Even amid these strong overall figures, grainfed exports to the Greater China region stand out, rising 41% to 57,524 tonnes.
Murray Davis, MLA's Regional Manager for Greater China spoke with Matt Brann on ABC's Landline during the recent SIAL trade show, sharing insights on the growing opportunities for Australian beef in the Chinese market.
SIAL China is one of Asia's largest and most influential food and beverage trade shows, attracting thousands of exhibitors and buyers from across the globe. It serves as a key platform for showcasing food innovations, forging international trade relationships, and gaining insights into evolving consumer trends in the region.
"Right now, Australia is very much centre stage," Murray told Landline.
"While Australia is not the largest exporter to China in terms of total volume, we tend to dominate the premium end of the market … That puts Australia in a prime position to supply premium-grade meat to Chinese consumers."
According to MLA's 2025 Greater China Snapshot, China is the world's largest beef import market. A growing base of affluent urban consumers is fuelling demand for high-quality beef. Australia is well-positioned to meet demand from these consumers, thanks to large productive capacity and a strong reputation for quality, taste and safety.
As US beef exports into China decline, Chinese buyers are showing greater interest in Australian product. Speaking about Australia's presence at the SIAL trade show, Murray told Landline, "We had 300 square metres of space, and our pavilion was busy with genuine buyers the whole time."
Looking ahead, the outlook for Australian trade with China remains positive. When asked about the future of Australian grainfed beef into the China market, Murray said, "There are some economic headwinds, with consumer sentiment a little subdued in China right now… but it's still a 200,000 tonne market for us. There may be some ups and downs, but regardless, it will continue to be a very significant market for us into the future."
The continued growth of China's premium beef market, and Australia's premium position within it, bodes well for the Australian beef industry in the years to come.
