Complete Maritime Profile & Reviews of Al-Farouk

This week marked a significant milestone in the live export sector, as the Sahiwal Express set sail from Broome, carrying approximately 2,800 cattle. This shipment is anticipated to be the final live export operation from the Kimberley region for the year. According to Kevin Schellack, CEO of the Kimberley Ports Authority, 2023 has seen a robust performance in live cattle exports from Broome, with a total of 23 vessels processed through the port this year. While the Kimberley will pause its shipments, activity will continue in southern Western Australia, Darwin, and Townsville, where exporters are ramping up efforts to meet Indonesia's demand for 100,000 to 150,000 cattle by year's end. 'It’s been another strong year for live exports from Broome,' Schellack noted, underscoring the region's critical role in the export of cattle to meet international demand.

The 2015 live cattle export trade to Indonesia officially commenced as the first vessel, the Sahiwal Express, departed from Darwin last night. This initial shipment is carrying nearly 3,000 feeder cattle, primarily sourced from the Northern Territory, while also including a handful from Queensland. The journey to Jakarta marks a significant milestone in the annual live export cycle, reinforcing the strong trade relations between Australia and Indonesia in the livestock sector.

The live export season in northern Western Australia has concluded, but not without a twist. The Sahiwal Express, which was set to depart from Wyndham this week, was unexpectedly redirected to Darwin. Steve Forrest, a representative from Wyndham Port, expressed that logistical challenges in sourcing sufficient cattle led to this last-minute decision. "There were some difficulties in securing enough cattle from this region," Forrest explained. "While the cattle are present, issues related to mustering and timing may have contributed to the diversion of the vessel to Darwin." Despite this hiccup, Wyndham Port has successfully shipped over 41,000 head of cattle during the year, marking a significant achievement for the local export industry.