Australia exported 96,399 sheep in September valued at $13.8 million FOB, according to latest shipping data released yesterday.

The trade has now exported 1.69 million sheep from Australia within the first nine months of the year.

The largest market in September was Bahrain, accounting for 31pc of total shipments, at 30,000 head, with the nine-month total at 204,865 head.

Oman took the second largest shipment for the month, at 20,000 head, with the first nine months at 56,646 head.

Live sheep exports to the UAE totalled 17,298 head in September, with January-to-September at 147,443 head.

There were 15,464 live goats exported in September, valued at A$1.5 million FOB, with the nine-month total at 67,612 head.

The majority of shipments were sent to Malaysia, at 15,015 head, carrying the calendar year-to-September to 62,090 head.

During September, Australian live cattle exports reached 136,285 head and were valued at A$119 million FOB, assisting the first nine months of 2014 to 956,935 head (Australian Bureau of Statistics).

Demand for Australian cattle strengthened across most markets for the month, with increased shipments across Asia and developing markets.

Strong interest in Indonesia continued into September, with live cattle shipments accounting for 65pc of overall numbers, at 89,038 head and valued at A$64.1 million FOB, carrying the January-to-September figure to 532,998 head.

The second largest live cattle export market in September was Egypt, at 17,400 head, with the calendar year-to-September at 27,900 head.

Numbers to China were 11,188 head, with the nine-month total at 86,426 head, while September shipments to Malaysia and Vietnam were 6,181 head and 5,965 head, respectively.

Source: Meat & Livestock Australia