Our Membership

Since the NTLEA was incorporated more than 30 years ago, association members have abided by the Constitution in continuing to develop the livestock export trade.The NTLEA is geared to provide its members with leadership and, where possible, a single voice for the northern industry.

Full meetings of the association are held twice a year and the executive committee meets quarterly and reports back to these full meetings.

The live export industry today is based on a natural partnership with our trading partners in South East Asia and other overseas markets. Grass-fed, tropically adapted Territory cattle can be shipped to various South East Asian ports by modern carriers effectively and within a matter of days.

Once here, the importers can valueadd to the animals significantly through efficient feeding regimes and many employment opportunities are created in the importing country in the two to three month feeding period. After feedlot fattening, the animals can be processed and consumed according to the specifications and religious customs of the importing countries.

More than 60% of all cattle turned off in the Territory are sold through the live export trade, and about 70% of the animals shipped out through Darwin come from Northern Territory properties.

The livestock export industry underpins the Northern Territory and northern Australian cattle industry and is instrumental in providing and developing markets for Territory cattle. Darwin is Australia's busiest cattle exporting port and about 35%-40% of all Australian export cattle are shipped through Darwin.