Australia is ramping up grain-fed beef exports just as U.S. production of beef declines, signaling a notable shift in global meat markets.
At the Gundamain feedlot west of Sydney, thousands of Black Angus cattle are being fattened on high-energy diets for about 90 days, helping feed Australia’s push to satisfy rising global demand for marbled grain-fed beef. Industry data show Australia had 1.6 million head in feedlots as of mid-2025, up dramatically from around 1 million five years ago — and the number is expected to reach 2 million by 2027. The expansion comes as U.S. beef production shrinks, due in part to tight cattle supplies and drought-related herd reductions. Analysts say this gives Australian exporters a competitive advantage in foreign markets, especially in Asia. The shift could reshape beef trade flows in coming years — and raise questions about price competition and supply security for longtime U.S. beef importers.
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