Value of animal product imports to Australia 2023, by country of origin

In 2023, Australia imported more than 863 million U.S. dollars of animal products from New Zealand, making it Australia’s biggest trade partner for such products by a wide margin. The United States was the second-largest trade partner for animal products, with imports from the U.S. totaling approximately 182 million U.S. dollars that year. 

Export meat trade

The trade of animal products contributes billions of U.S. dollars to the Australian economy every year. Countries throughout Asia are significant trade partners for exports of Australian animal products. Chickens account for the largest share of livestock in Australia, by a significant margin.

Domestic meat consumption

Although per capita consumption of meat is falling for some types, consumption of poultry has increased in recent years and meat is still an important part of an Australian home-cooked meal. Australian shoppers purchase the bulk of their meat from the major supermarkets, but butchers still hold around 20 percent of the fresh meat market share.