Major Commodities - Goats

It may come as a surprise to many Australians, but goat meat is, in fact, the biggest meat market on Earth, with more goat meat consumed around the globe than any other meat product.

The emerging Australian goat meat sector exports around $100 million-a-year of produce each year, while the mohair side of the business generates almost $2 million-a-year.

Despite China, India and Pakistan being the largest producers and consumers of goat meat in the world, Australia is the world’s largest exporter of both goat meat and live goats.

Australian goats: fast facts

• Goat meat is the most consumed meat product on Earth and is a burgeoning commodity in
  Australia. In fact, there are 1,089 goat farms in Australia.

Australian Bureau of Statistics, Small Area Data 2006/2007, Catalogue No.7125.0

• As at 30 June 2009, Australian goat slaughter was estimated at 1.8 million head.

Meat & Livestock Australia, Fast Facts 2010 Goat Meat.

• The annual gross value of Australian goat meat is almost $48 million.

Australian Bureau of Statistics, Small Area Data 2006/2007, Catalogue No.7125.0

• The mohair side of the business is worth around $1.9 million to the Australian economy each year.

Goat Industry Council of Australia 2010.

• Despite China, India and Pakistan being the largest producers and consumers of goat meat in the world, Australia is the world’s largest exporter of both goat meat and live goats.

Meat & Livestock Australia, Fast Facts 2010 Goat Meat.

• Over 2009-10, Australia exported almost 28,000 tonnes of goat meat, worth around $100
  million.

Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Export Statistics 2010, and Meat & Livestock Australia 2010.

• In 2009, chilled and frozen Australian goat meat exports totalled 18,383 tonnes (shipped
  weight). In 2010, 21,609 tonnes of chilled and frozen Australian goat meat was exported. The principal markets being (in shipped weight) Taiwan (3,049 tonnes), Middle East (504 tonnes) and Malaysia (355 tonnes).

Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Export Statistics 2010

• In 2009-10, 128,824 live goats were exported, valued at $10.7 million, to three principal destinations: Malaysia (91.7 percent), Singapore (5.3 percent) and the Philippines (1.6 percent).

Meat & Livestock Australia, Fast Facts 2009: Australian Goat Meat Industry