Highlights for cattle
- Australian cattle prices were broadly stronger throughout May. The Eastern Young Cattle Indicator now situates at 728c/kg, up 22 per cent from the beginning of the year. The National Young Cattle Indicator also saw some growth, now at 389c/kg, a 23 per cent increase from early January.
- Competition at local markets between restockers and processing centres was prevalent throughout May as the recent rainfall has boosted confidence in the northern states. Southern processers have followed the trend of late last year and early 2025, travelling into the northern states to purchase new stock. However, there are reports now of most of those businesses fully stocked up. This may impact prices in June. Prices are still expected to be supported by the large export demand and the competitive nature of local markets.
- Export demand is expected to remain strong heading into June. Key markets of the United States, China and Japan are forecast to continue being strong, however heading into the back half of the year may see marginal declines due to the recent news surrounding Brazil. The additional factor of Australia triggering the safeguard mechanism in trade with China may also contribute to the overall marginal decline in export volume from late July.
Sources: Meat & Livestock Australia (MLA)
Tom Herbert
Agricultural Analyst
Tom combines his agricultural degree with strong industry knowledge to provide commentary on local and international beef and cattle market trends.
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