Key facts
- Over 50% of Japan's beef imports now come from Australia.
- US droughts are impacting cattle herds.
- Buyers are looking to Argentina and Brazil for beef imports.
- China and South Korea have hit their Australian beef tariff-quota limits.
Japan's beef imports are increasingly shifting towards Australia, with over half of the country's supply now originating from Down Under. This trend is driven by global production challenges, including droughts affecting US cattle herds and broader climate change impacts. As a result, Japanese buyers are actively seeking to diversify their sources, with Argentina and Brazil emerging as potential alternatives. The situation is further influenced by China and South Korea having already reached their annual tariff-quota limits for Australian beef, which could make more Australian supply available for the Japanese market.