Australia’s live export industry recorded just 91 livestock consignments in the first half of 2026, marking a significant drop from the 142 consignments logged during the same period in 2025, according to Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) data analyzed by Impetus Animal Welfare chief executive officer Dr Michael Patching.
Small group of operators dominate consignment market
Market activity remains heavily concentrated among a small group of operators. According to DAFF statistics, eight companies accounted for 94.6 percent of consignments in 2024 and 92.1 percent in 2025. The remaining active exporters typically complete only one or two shipments annually, often handling specialty breeder jobs to less frequent destinations such as Pakistan or Mexico.
The hierarchy among leading exporters shifted notably between 2023 and 2025. In 2023, consignment volumes among top firms were tightly bunched. By 2025, Frontier International Northern Pty Ltd (Frontier) led the sector with 57 consignments, closely followed by Australian Rural Exports Pty Ltd (AUSTREX) with 52 consignments. International Livestock Export Pty Ltd (ILE), which topped the trade in 2024 with 59 consignments, dropped to 40 consignments in 2025 and held second place through the first half of 2026.
More exporters run smaller loads than a decade ago
The structural composition of the live export trade contrasts sharply with figures from a decade prior. In 2015 and 2016, approximately 12 companies shipped roughly 1 million cattle and close to 2 million sheep. By contrast, 16 companies exported around 800,000 cattle and just over 300,000 sheep in 2025, excluding the ongoing contraction in the sheep trade.
Historical DAFF reports to Parliament show that total annual consignments stood at 297 in 2015 and 2025 recorded 292 voyages. Modern operations feature more exporters running smaller loads distributed across a greater number of individual participants.
Indonesia expands share as Vietnamese consignments fall
Indonesia remains the primary destination for Australian live cattle exports, expanding its share of total consignments from 69 percent in 2024 to 73 percent in 2025, and reaching 77 percent in the first half of 2026. The market is intensely contested among mid-tier and major operators; in 2025, nine of the sixteen active exporters shipped cattle to Indonesia, with Frontier holding the largest individual share at 24 percent.
Conversely, Vietnam—historically the number two market over the past decade—experienced a steep decline. DAFF records indicate Vietnamese consignments fell from 46 in 2024 to 30 in 2025, with only a single shipment recorded prior to June 30, 2026.
What source provides the data on live export consignments?
What source provides the data on live export consignments?
The figures derive from the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry’s public reports to Parliament concerning livestock mortalities on sea voyages, published every six months.
Why do consignment counts differ from actual vessel shipments?
A single vessel frequently carries cattle, buffalo, or sheep for multiple different exporters simultaneously, meaning one physical ship generates multiple distinct consignments in government tracking records.
How many active exporters operated during the first half of 2026?
DAFF statistics record 12 active exporters during the first six months of 2026, aligning with historical patterns where smaller operators complete only one or two annual voyages.
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