China has granted export licences to eight additional Australian facilities, opening the door for a significant expansion of beef exports just months after Beijing introduced new trade measures to protect its domestic cattle industry.
Updated listings published by China’s customs authority (GACC) late on April 17 show approvals for six distribution centres and two abattoirs, including the Thomas Foods International plant near Murray Bridge in South Australia.
Australia’s Department of Agriculture confirmed the new access and said China had also authorised 13 previously listed abattoirs to export additional product.
According to Global AgriTrends meat analyst Simon Quilty, the combined effect of the new licences and the upgraded approvals will dramatically increase Australia’s ability to send chilled beef to China.
“So I understand those 13 licences have been upgraded from frozen to chilled beef… the two new abattoirs plus 13 gives a total of 15 new extra licences,” he said more than double Australia’s previous chilled‑beef access.
Agriculture Minister Julie Collins welcomed the development, saying it highlights the reputation of Australian beef as “high quality and safe.”
The approvals mark another step in the ongoing stabilisation of Australia–China trade relations, following years of disruptions across multiple export sectors.
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