MARKET SNAPSHOT
Thursday, 3 September 2026
Latest meat market conditions
BEEF
The appetiser – what the market means for foodservice
Shrinking global beef supply will continue to support demand for Australian beef, even as trade restrictions change where that beef is sold.
The mains
The impacts of the Chinese safeguard tariffs are now fully realised, as we saw Australian beef export volumes to China fall 71% month-over-month from May to June, with July volumes remaining similarly low.
Much of this Australian product has been redirected to alternative destinations, with Japan, South Korea, the United States and the Middle East all recording significant increases in Australian beef imports through June and July.
On the domestic front, several feedlot operators have confirmed that they are now feeding cattle to go into China at the start of next year when the safeguard quota resets on 1 January 2027.
According to RaboResearch’s Global Beef Quarterly Q3 report, the global beef supplies are expected to contract and continue falling over the course of the next 12 months, with Brazil projected to have the largest decline in volume.
Rabobank’s Senior Animal Protein Analyst, Angus Gidley-Baird predicts that “global beef production is forecast to fall two per cent year-over-year in the calendar year to December 2026”
Read more in RaboResearch’s Global Beef Quarterly Q3 2026
Read more at Rabobank
LAMB
The appetiser – what the market means for foodservice
The underlying availability of sheep and lamb remains tight following a substantial decline in national slaughter. Any improvement in supply as we come out of winter is therefore expected to be gradual, and prices for premium lamb will likely remain elevated.
The mains
Overall lamb slaughter and lamb production declined by 22% and 16% respectively in the June 2026 quarter, as compared to the same period last year. At the same time the National Trade Lamb Indicator reached a quarterly record with an average of 1,189c/kg as processors competed for limited supply.
According to Emiliano Diaz, Meat & Livestock Australia (MLA)’s Senior Market Information Analyst, “the lamb sector is producing fewer animals than a year ago, but record carcase weights have helped offset some of the decline in slaughter numbers”
While this produces more meat per animal, it has not been sufficient to offset the overall reduction of lambs processed.
Read more at MLA
PORK
The appetiser – what the market means for foodservice
Globally, there is more pork available as exporters from various markets are competing more aggressively to find alternative markets for their products, now that China has reduced their share of global pork imports. While Andrews Meat Industries supplies Australian pork, these global conditions influence the environment for pork prices and availability domestically.
The mains
China remains the world’s largest pork importer, but their share of global imports declined from 43% in 2021 to 23% in 2025. This means exporters are now under greater pressure to compete with each other for different markets, increasing pork availability and driving down prices in the Australian domestic market.
Although Andrews Meat Industries solely supplies Australian pork, in the general domestic market imported pork makes up a significant share of the overall volume, and therefore greater competition amongst international suppliers is having a flow-on effect across the domestic pork market.
As more pork becomes available globally, Australian buyers have access to greater volumes and more competitive pricing. This helps keep domestic prices steady and, for certain cuts, is beginning to drive prices lower.
Read more at RaboResearch’s World Pork Map 2026
CHICKEN
The appetiser – what the market means for foodservice
The chicken industry, similar to all other sectors, is facing increasing feed and labour costs, as well as extra pressure from the war in the Middle East. Even if the H5N1 bird flu doesn’t spread to poultry farms, the cost of chicken is expected to rise in the coming months for domestic retail and wholesale markets.
The mains
Chicken production increased in the June 2026 quarter, and has solidly cemented itself as Australia’s top protein of choice, particularly in the domestic QSR space. In the June 2026 quarter, chicken meat production increased by 3.1% to 409,119 tonnes.
Ingham’s, Australia’s largest poultry supplier, 2025/26 financial results show that chicken’s average selling cost was $6.50 a kilogram, up 2.4 per cent on the previous year.
The company’s chief executive Edward Alexander warned that Ingham’s was facing $130 million of extra costs in 2026-27 driven by a combination of feed, Middle East (costs), as well as embedded inflation. Chicken retail pricing will eventually move in line with changes to the base cost, and that will take place in the near future.
Read more on ABC News
Disclaimer: The information contained in this blog is provided for general informational purposes only. While Andrews Meat Industries has exercised reasonable care, skill and diligence in its preparation, many factors — including environmental and seasonal conditions — can impact its accuracy and currency. For tailored advice relating to your business, please contact your Andrews Meat Industries sales representative.
