Cattle ship sets sail for Malaysia despite trade suspension

A live cattle ship has sailed from Darwin Port this afternoon bound for Malaysia despite a trade suspension.

Australia’s Department of Agriculture has confirmed the shipment, which departed around 2pm, was approved prior to Malaysia notifying the Australian government that it would suspend imports of cattle and buffalo because of concerns about lumpy skin disease.

“The general situation with Malaysia has not changed [and] exports of live cattle and buffalo from Australia remain suspended,” the department said in a statement.

“However, approval has been provided by the relevant Malaysian authorities to allow this consignment to proceed as the import permit was issued prior to the suspension.”

The Angus Express, which has a capacity of about 2,000 head, was loaded today with cattle and a large consignment of breeder buffalo.

ABC Rural is aware of another vessel due out of Darwin later this week, also bound for Malaysia.

It is understood some of the cattle for these shipments have been sourced from a property that is owned by a Malaysian state-owned corporation.

Indonesia last month temporarily suspended live cattle imports from four export facilities in northern Australia, claiming 13 Australian cattle had tested positive to lumpy skin disease a number of days after arrival.

The federal government maintains that Australia is free of lumpy skin disease and has been testing animals to reassure Indonesian and Malaysian authorities.

Live cattle exports to Indonesia are continuing using stock from facilities that are still accredited.

The Devon Express live export vessel left Darwin Port on Sunday and is en route to Jakarta.

According to Meat and Livestock Australia, Malaysia imported around 92,000 head of cattle between 2018 and 2022.

During the same period, Indonesia imported more than 2.48 million head.