Prices for Australian beef are already rising in China after imports hit the quota limit and a 55% tariff went into effect as of June 20.
At retailer Sam’s Club, some Australian beef products have seen prices increase by 32-36%, with certain products also limited to two per customer or being shown as only available for purchase in the store and not for delivery.
At Aldi, some Australian beef products are listed as being out of stock or temporarily unavailable.
Due to the prevalence of online ordering and grocery delivery in China, many customers can easily compare current prices to their previous orders, and some are reporting that Australian steak at Alibaba’s Hema grocery chain is now nearly 50% more expensive than they were previously.
Hema stores also stock Chinese beef, and this is about 17% cheaper than Australian beef.
Upstream, importers are citing price increases of 18-20 yuan per KG on imported containers, while meat distributors to restaurants are saying high-end Australian beef at ports was typically 80-120 yuan per KG, but prices have now increased by 40-60 yuan per KG.
Country-specific beef import quotas went into effect at the start of 2026 to protect the domestic industry, which had seen extended losses. When the quotas went into effect, wholesale beef prices were already up 8% over the past year. Since the start of the year, prices are up another 3%.
An article from Chinese news outlet 21st Century Business Herald quotes an importer who says that the tariff measures do not mean that Chinese beef will win, and consumers may instead opt for cheaper cuts from South America.
