TOWNSVILLE is the cattle live export capital of Australia, having shipped almost 400,000 head in a record financial year.
The Port of Townsville shipped 395,628 head of cattle abroad during the 2019-20 financial year, surpassing Darwin for the first time where 387,484 head were loaded.
MLA figures show 1,298,922 head of cattle were shipped from Australia in the 12 months to June, an increase of 8 per cent on the year prior.
And despite the global pandemic affecting international trade, Townsville recorded its best year for live export yet, with figures up 32 per cent, from 293,169 in 2018-19.
Australian live exports rebounded in June to 124,000 head, the largest volume of cattle shipped since last November.
Elders Townsville livestock manager Tom Kennedy said Vietnam had been the dominant market last year.
"Townsville is renowned for having some heavy slaughter cattle and predominantly that's why they all end up here chasing heavy slaughter bullocks," Mr Kennedy said.
Queensland Livestock Exporters Association president Greg Pankhurst said the numbers were a great result for Queensland producers and the industry as a whole.
"Obviously it's very encouraging and a great result for Queensland," Mr Pankhurst said.
"Vietnam is the strongest and main market for heavier slaughter type animals, which Queensland has the perfect production system for.
"We've also seen some cattle leaving for Indonesia with the feeder type animals."
Mr Pankhurst said Queensland producers also contributed to Darwin's figures, with cattle trucked across the border to be shipped out of the NT.
He said the resumption of live cattle exports out of Port Alma was also encouraging, with four boats in the last financial year shipping 10,000-12,000 head to China and Vietnam.
"We've always got that 1000 head a month leaving Brisbane for the Japanese market and that is a very consistent and constant market as well," Mr Kennedy said.
"It's a great sign for the industry and also positive for our trading partners in Indonesia and Vietnam with the problems of COVID, which Vietnam has handled the situation very well."
Mr Pankhurst said cattle was at the top of the price point for those markets, at about $3.50-$3.60/kg, which while great for the producers, would be tough for South East Asian lot feeders and processors and may lead to a downturn in demand.
He said a huge amount of cheap Indian buffalo meat was set to arrive in Indonesia shortly, which would be likely to also drive down demand.
