Minister for Primary Industry and Resources, Ken Vowles, said the figures confirmed the high level of demand for Australian cattle overseas, and reinforced the need to invest in the industry.

“The Territory government knows the NT plays a central role in the nation’s live exports and has been promoting and investing in the sector accordingly,” Minister Vowles said.

“Live exports are a major economic driver and last year we fast-tracked the $4.1 million upgrade to the Berrimah Export Yards, with the project close to completion,” he said.

“The facility will see Darwin better placed as the supplier of choice for live cattle and buffalo export.”

Late last year Mr Vowles travelled to Vietnam with Tom Ryan from the NT Cattlemen’s Association and Louise Bilato from the NT Buffalo Industry Council, where they met with government ministers and toured feedlot facilities.

“Our discussions showed there was real and growing demand for Australian cattle and buffalo, and the Territory has the capacity to help meet that demand,” Vowles said. 

The Hao Phat Company near Hanoi and the Ket Phat Thinh Company near Ho Chi Minh City account for more than 70 per cent of Vietnam’s imports of cattle and buffalo, and reportedly told the Australian delegation they could take up to 10,000 more buffalo a year from the Top End.

The Primary Industry and Resources Minister said he wanted to grow the NT buffalo export market by working with Traditional Owners to secure access to the 150,000 buffalo roaming Arnhem Land.

“We are developing Katherine as an agribusiness and logistics hub to increase our live export capabilities,” Vowles said.

“The live export industry has had a great start to the year and we want to keep that momentum going,” he said.