The number of sheep headed to the Middle East could double, as the Saudi Arabian live sheep market is on the verge of reopening.
Saudi Arabia was historically Australia's largest market for sheep, taking one million sheep a year at its peak, but it cut off the relationship in 2012 in response to Australia's strict export regulations.
Plans to reopen the market come as a looming ban on live exports hangs heavy over the industry, worth an estimated $92 million to the Australian economy, primarily through exports from Western Australia.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has said the ban will not come into effect until the next term of government.
About one million sheep are exported from Australia each year, and that could double with a reopening of the Saudi Arabian trade route.
Kuwait Livestock Transport and Trading Company buys most of WA's live sheep.
CEO Osama Boodai said the market to Saudi Arabia could be open from as early as next year, and he hoped to export the Australian sheep as soon as all government approvals were granted.
"I think easily, we can supply them with one million [sheep] annually," he said.
Live sheep preferred
Reopening the Saudi Arabian market has been in the pipeline for many years, but the federal government is also planning to phase out the live sheep trade.
Mr Boodai said live sheep were preferred over boxed, chilled meat for export.
"Once we are importing the chilled meat, it's already five days gone from the shelf life once it's arrived to the shelf to the consumer," he said.
"They don't prefer to buy something which is ... slaughtered in Australia, transferred by aeroplane to two countries til it reaches [the Middle East]."
The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade declined an interview request but said in a statement the trade had not resumed since 2012.
Farmers rejoice
Livestock Collective director and Great Southern sheep producer Steven Bolt said reopening the Saudi Arabian market demonstrated the importance of live export for WA.
"We know the amount of sheep that are sitting on farm at the moment, so an opportunity to export more sheep out of the state will be really key for many producers," he said.
"West Australian sheep are highly sought after … I think it'll show to government that this trade needs to continue."
Mr Bolt said the news would be welcomed by other farmers.
"It's pretty exciting for the West Australian sheep industry, an opportunity to regain a previous market that ... was really important to us," he said.
"It gives us another opportunity to demonstrate how well that we're able to transport these sheep safely to fill the market in the Middle East."
